Dish 19th century

This ceramic dish was created by Bernard Palissy, sometime in the 16th century. The eye is immediately drawn to its oval form, punctuated by a constellation of circular depressions, each meticulously glazed and seemingly orbiting a larger, central green ellipse. The dish’s structure is defined by its relief. The composition's depth emerges from cherubic figures, interspersed with decorative motifs. The raised elements cast shadows which animate the dish's surface, offering a dynamic play of light and depth. Note how the symmetry and structure of the dish serve not only a functional purpose but also engage with Renaissance ideals of order and harmony. Yet, the almost scientific arrangement of elements and their vivid coloration disrupt any sense of classical restraint. Palissy’s plate is both a celebration of form and a subversion of it.