Terms and Conditions
The artist, title and date of the work must be listed anywhere the image is reproduced:
Italy, (Urbino) (manufacturer)
Francesco Xanto Avelli (attributed to) (decorator)
Dido and Aeneas, shallow bowl with broad rim (c. 1522-1525)
earthenware (maiolica)
5.1 × 25.9 cm diameter
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1976
Photo: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
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Dido and Aeneas, shallow bowl with broad rim
(c. 1522-1525)
Medium
earthenware (maiolica)
Measurements
5.1 × 25.9 cm diameter
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1976
Gallery location
16th & 17th Century Gallery - Painting and Sculpture
Mezzanine linked to Level 1, NGV International
About this work
Subjects inspired by classical literature found new favour in the Renaissance. This bowl is decorated with scenes from the tale of Dido and Aeneas from Book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid. The Trojan prince Aeneas, fleeing the destruction of Troy, arrives in Carthage, North Africa, and begins a passionate affair with the city’s queen, Dido. However, reminded of his destiny to travel to Italy, where he will found Rome, Aeneas abandons Dido, who commits suicide in despair. Although many works of art from this time emphasise the positive aspects of love, imagery depicting sombre, even tragic, tales to warn couples against folly were also common.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Urbino, Italy
Inscription
painted in blue on inside of rim l.r.: ˄ F ˄ R ˄
Accession Number
D4-1976
Department
International Decorative Arts
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Dame Carol Colburn-Grigor CBE through Metal Manufactures Limited