An Urbino istoriato dish

CIRCA 1535

Details

An Urbino istoriato dish
Circa 1535
Painted with the Roman Emperor Constantine's bedchamber, the centre with a vista through a series of doorways, an angel in flight above holding a cross and a ribbon with the inscription IN HOC SIGNO VIN-CES, with soldiers entering through a doorway on the right carrying his sword, shield and crowned helmet surmounted by the Roman eagle, Constantine sleeping awkwardly on the edge of his bed, his elbow propped up with a pillow, the reverse inscribed in turquoise Degiusto Constantin lauisione Santa (broken through and repaired, foot lacking, small triangular section at 6 o'clock appears to be replacement, chipping to rim)
10¾ in. (27.5 cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

'In hoc signo vinces' (by this sign thou shalt conquer) are the words that Constantine heard in conjunction with his vision of a cross in a dream that he had shortly before defeating Emperor Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian bridge (on the Tiber).

The dish is painted by a hand very close to Francesco Xanto. It also uses his 'cut and paste' method of creating compositions from elements of engraved images. The figure of the angel is derived from the angel in The Judgement of Paris engraved by Marcantonio Raimondi after Raphael.

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