Bowl
Venice , 1500 - 1520
Description
The hemispherical bowl is slightly flared and has a circular base. Its surface is painted with enamels. On the outside, it is decorated with scales and dots in white, red, green, and gold. Inside, there is the half-length figure of Saint Francis, holding a crucifix and a book. Enamelled decorations on coloured glass became popular around mid-15th century: coloured pigments were applied to the glass object and fixed with a second firing. Scales and, above all, dots were widely used because they didn’t require a great technical skill and they didn’t conceal the transparency of the glass. The subject on this bowl, sacred rather than profane, is rare and suggests it may have been a votive or liturgical object.
Data Sheet
Author
Venice
Date
1500 - 1520
Material and technique
Blue glass, enamels
Measures
height 55 mm; diameter 145 mm
Acquisition
Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli bequest, 1879
Inventory number
1223
location
Murano Glass Room
The room was the bedroom of Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli and houses both the collection of archaeological objects and the collection of Murano glass, about two hundred pieces purchased largely by Gian Giacomo himself and initially kept in the Studiolo Dantesco. The Murano Glass Room was severely damaged by bombing in ’43: the lacunar ceiling, the frieze frescoed by Luigi Scrosati and the fireplace, also by Scrosati, were lost. The beautiful doors carved by Giuseppe Ripamonti and some furnishings were saved.
collection
Glass
The glass collection includes 200 items, most of them were acquired by Gian Giacomo, others were bought by the first Museum directors. They are mainly 16th and 17th century Murano glasses, showing the various Venetian glass techniques and decorations. There are also some archaeological as well as German and Bohemian pieces.