Dish with Pomona

Bernard Palissy|Maerten de Vos|Philips Galle

late 16th or early 17th century · Lead-glazed earthenware · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruits, was associated more generally with orchards and gardens in the Renaissance. Here, she is surrounded by flowers and gardening tools: a spade, a watering jar, and a rake. A garden with a fountain appears in the background. Like the pruning tools displayed nearby, the dish attests to the nobility’s growing interest in horticulture at this time. The scene is based on an engraving by Philis Galle (1537–1612) after a composition by Marten de Vos (1532–1603).

Artist

Bernard Palissy|Maerten de Vos|Philips Galle

Date

late 16th or early 17th century

Medium

Lead-glazed earthenware

Culture

French, Fontainebleau or Avon

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Julia A. Berwind, 1953