Plate 20th century

This tin-glazed earthenware plate was created by Ulisse Cantagalli in Italy, during the late 19th century. Cantagalli revived Renaissance maiolica traditions. The plate is a testament to the complex cultural revivals that marked the 19th century. The cherubic figures decorating the plate point to both religious and secular humanist traditions which dominated the Italian Renaissance. These motifs were initially deployed to celebrate the beauty of the human form, but also underscore the power dynamics embedded in Western art history, often marginalizing other cultural narratives. The plate invites a dialogue between the past and the present, questioning how historical styles and symbols are reinterpreted across time, and what these stylistic revivals tell us about the cultural values of the societies that produce them. The cherubs can evoke feelings of nostalgia or a longing for a perceived golden age.