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Marvels of Maiolica: Italian Renaissance Ceramics from the Corcoran Gallery of Art Collection

Arts & Activities, Feb, 2005 by Mark M. Johnson

LEARNING from EXHIBITIONS

Maiolica, a high-quality, beautifully decorated tin-glazed earthenware, evolved during the Renaissance to achieve a value well beyond its natural material worth. Maiolica is one key to understanding life in Renaissance Italy--a rich, complex, sophisticated and cultural period filled with a wide range of functional and exquisite objects that served and enhanced the lives of its citizens.

The term "Maiolica" or "Majolica" is a medieval Italian derivation of the name of the island of Majorca which was the source of many imports, including ceramics, to Italy. In the Renaissance, the Italians used the term maiolica to describe Hispano-Moresque lusterwares. Over time, the name was more generally applied to include a variety of tin-glazed earthenware forms and styles.

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Most commonly associated with the Italian Renaissance, the history of maiolica actually dates back to Islamic prototypes created as early as the 9th century. By the 11th century the technique and style of this lusterware had become more widespread and, by the 13th century, large quantities of this pottery were being imported to Italy from Moorish Spain. In the 15th century, Italy's own maiolica production grew to eventually dominate the pottery of Europe and set a trend that continued for centuries, even up to the present day.

The technique of making majolica begins with firing a piece of earthenware. Next, the surface of the object is painted with a tin enamel that dries to form a white opaque, porous surface. A design or image is then painted on in colors. A transparent glaze is applied overall and, finally, the piece is fired again.

The rise of Majolica pottery in the Italian Renaissance signaled a change in the perception and purpose of ceramic wares. Ceramics went from being primarily austere and utilitarian to gaining the status of an art form. Maiolica actually can be considered a branch of Renaissance painting as well as an important chapter in ceramic history. Well crafted and elegantly decorated, these ceramics flourished throughout Italy and were highly prized by collectors.

Through the Renaissance, collectors displayed maiolica proudly and prominently in their homes and businesses. Citizens from all levels of society gave majolica as gifts; notaries referred to it in documents; and merchants carried wares from local workshops as well as from neighboring regions.

At table, maiolica fulfilled many practical purposes including the presenting, serving and holding of things to eat and drink. Apothecaries featured magnificent sets of drug jars in their shops. Specialized and often unique pieces of maiolica played an important role in childbirth and marriage ceremonies and were coveted reminders of such events.

Beyond the ornate and colorful decorations, the surfaces of majolica objects were painted with portraits, coats-of-arms and narrative scenes from mythology, history and religion. If a bowl, plate or vessel were not large enough to accommodate a large scene, then the imagery might cover a network of tiles that would be set into a wall or laid on a floor.

Marvels of Maiolica: Italian Renaissance Ceramics from the Corcoran Gallery of Art Collection features works from the William A. Clark Collection, one of the few major collections of its kind in the United States. The Clark collection of maiolica is also considered to be outstanding because of its overall quality, variety and condition. The exhibition, which features approximately 35 plates, apothecary jars, inkwells and other decorative objects, showcases works made in all the major centers of Italian Renaissance production including Faenza, Urbino and Tuscany.

The exhibition is organized by the Corcoran Gallery of Art. A scholarly publication of the same title accompanies the exhibition and is available through the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., or from any of the museums on the exhibition tour. The exhibition and related programs are made possible by the Scott Opler Foundation, Inc.

ITINERARY

The Frick Art and Historical Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Through April 3, 2005

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Sept. 22, 2005-Jan. 1, 2006

Hillstrom Museum of Art

Gustavus Adolphus College

St. Peter, Minnesota

Feb. 6, 2006-March 19, 2006

Taft Museum of Art

Cincinnati, Ohio

April 7-June 18, 2006

Mark M. Johnson is Director of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Montgomery, Alabama, and a Contributing Editor for Arts & Activities.

Marvels of Maiolica: Italian Renaissance Ceramics from the Corcoran Gallery of Art Collection

Arts & Activities, Feb, 2005 by Mark M. Johnson

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