Bowl with the Arms of Pope Julius II and the Manzoli of Bologna surrounded by putti, cornucopiae, satyrs, dolphins, birds, etc. 1508

This is a bowl, made around 1500-1530 in the workshop of Giovanni Maria Vasaro, that marries sacred and secular heraldry. The bowl commemorates the alliance between Pope Julius II and the Manzoli family of Bologna. But the elaborate decoration surrounding the coats-of-arms feels almost pagan. Putti, satyrs, and cornucopiae populate the rim, evoking a world of classical mythology. The Italian Renaissance was a heady time when artists and patrons were rediscovering classical antiquity. Yet the Church still held enormous power. This bowl reflects the complex negotiations of identity and authority in Renaissance Italy. By blending papal symbols with classical motifs, the artist creates a vision of power rooted in both spiritual and earthly authority. It speaks to the desires, tastes, and even the anxieties of its time.