Marvels of Maiolica: Italian Renaissance Ceramics from the Corcoran Gallery of Art

Gorgeously painted and glazed, the Italian Renaissance ceramics known as maiolica are fascinating both for their beauty and for the insight they offer into life in this vital period. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the producers of maiolica made everyday furnishings such as plates and jars into elaborate works of art, while establishing an active market in fashionable goods. The Loeb was the first museum to present this exhibition offering an exceptional overview of this key tradition. Featuring 32 exquisite plates, apothecary jars, inkwells and other decorative objects, this exhibition was accompanied by a fully illustrated book by Jacqueline Marie Musacchio, assistant professor of art at Vassar College and exhibition guest curator.

This exhibition was organized by the Corcoran Gallery of Art and was made possible by the Scott Opler Foundation, Inc. The presentation at Vassar was supported by The Smart Family Foundation, Inc., and the Agnes Rindge Claflin Fund, a gift of the Friends of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center. There are works that appeared in this exhibition that were loans to the Loeb and therefore do not appear on this website.