Hispanic Society of America

Hispanic Society of America The ceramic workshops of Talavera de la Reina were famed for their finely glazed pottery, which was considered by many to be the "best in Spain." This newly acquired fountain in the shape of a barrel from Talavera de la Reina in northern Castile is exceptional for both its form and decoration. The polychrome decorati...on reflects the influence of ceramics from the Ligurian region of Italy, Albisola in particular. The barrel form, on the other hand, is typically Chinese and was adopted by Spanish and Mexican ceramic workshops—interestingly, ceramic barrels are not found in other European centers before the nineteenth century. This gallery talk will address the attribution of this barrel and discuss the presence of Italian potters in Talavera de la Reina during the seventeenth century.
Gallery talk: Dr. Margaret Connors McQuade, Assistant Director.