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Lot Essay
The present albarello, painted with the stemma of Cesaro Candia, was likely once part of an Urbino maiolica pharmaceutical collection now located in the Museo Farmacia di Roccavaldina in Messina, Sicily.
In the collection of this well preserved pharmacy is a dated documentary amphora labeled on the base M. ANTONIO PATANAZI URBINI 1580. Represented on all is the coat of arms of Cesaro Candia. Many of the large and medium size albarelli are also painted with a cartouche enclosing the name Cesaro Candia. It has been suggested by scholars that Cesaro Candia was a merchant from Messina who traded on the central piazza in Palermo. He is thought to have acquired the works directly from Urbino and to have brought them to Sicily. From 1580 to 1628 the provenance of the collection is not known. In1628, the collection is documented at public auction in Messina as acquired by a clergyman from Rocca named Don Gregorio Bottaro, for 400 onze (paid in 4 installments), from a merchant named (Francisco) Benenato, a descendent of Cesaro Candia. Don Gregorio Bottaro then donates the pharmacy to the Brotherhood of the SS. Sacramento di Rocca with the obligation that they distribute medicine free of charge to the poor. The pharmacy is documented dispensing treatment through a series of herbalist and physicians until1852 when the last entry is recorded by Dr. Andaloro. The collection fell into disuse and was held by the Church of Roccavaldina until 1900. It then passed into the hands of the E.C.A., Communal Agency Attendance. Between 1966 and the 1967 the collection was restored to Faenza and in 1979 it became the property of the Municipality of Roccavaldina, Il Museo Farmacia di Roccavaldina.
For an Urbino istoriato flask with similar provenance, see Sotheby's, London, 22 November 2005, lot 9.
In the collection of this well preserved pharmacy is a dated documentary amphora labeled on the base M. ANTONIO PATANAZI URBINI 1580. Represented on all is the coat of arms of Cesaro Candia. Many of the large and medium size albarelli are also painted with a cartouche enclosing the name Cesaro Candia. It has been suggested by scholars that Cesaro Candia was a merchant from Messina who traded on the central piazza in Palermo. He is thought to have acquired the works directly from Urbino and to have brought them to Sicily. From 1580 to 1628 the provenance of the collection is not known. In1628, the collection is documented at public auction in Messina as acquired by a clergyman from Rocca named Don Gregorio Bottaro, for 400 onze (paid in 4 installments), from a merchant named (Francisco) Benenato, a descendent of Cesaro Candia. Don Gregorio Bottaro then donates the pharmacy to the Brotherhood of the SS. Sacramento di Rocca with the obligation that they distribute medicine free of charge to the poor. The pharmacy is documented dispensing treatment through a series of herbalist and physicians until1852 when the last entry is recorded by Dr. Andaloro. The collection fell into disuse and was held by the Church of Roccavaldina until 1900. It then passed into the hands of the E.C.A., Communal Agency Attendance. Between 1966 and the 1967 the collection was restored to Faenza and in 1979 it became the property of the Municipality of Roccavaldina, Il Museo Farmacia di Roccavaldina.
For an Urbino istoriato flask with similar provenance, see Sotheby's, London, 22 November 2005, lot 9.