Renaissance Majolicas | October 2026
On the occasion of the 34th Florence International Antiques Biennale at Palazzo Corsini, the gallery presents a curated selection of sixteenth-century Italian majolicas, featuring masterpieces of istoriato ware from Urbino, Faenza, Montelupo, and Venice. Among these, several pieces of extraordinary importance stand out, beginning with two magnificent majolicas from the workshop of Guido and Orazio Fontana: a grotesque plate featuring Saint Mark in his study at the center, and an istoriato plate dated 1547, depicting the Abduction of Europa with Zeus in the guise of a bull. The exhibition also features large Venetian pharmacy apothecary jars produced in the mid-16th century by Mastro Domenico, alongside a globular pharmacy jar decorated in the a quartieri pattern, which prominently features on the front the portrait of the knight Bevis of Hampton. Rounding out this extraordinary group is an istoriata crespina made in Montelupo Fiorentino, depicting Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, immersed in the waters of the River Jordan, accompanied by various other istoriated plates from Faenza featuring allegorical figures, mythological scenes, putti, and cherubs.
Workshop of Orazio and Flaminio Fontana, Saint Mark the Evangelist, Urbino, mid-16th century
Mid-16th-century Faenza crespina depicting a female allegorical figure of sacrifice
Mid-16th-century Faenza compendionario crespines
Mid-16th-century Faentine jar with the portrait of Bevis of Hampton
Mid-16th-century Venetian pharmacy jars by Mastro Domenico