Renaissance maiolica exhibition at Palazzo Madama reveals intimate domestic stories

The exhibition 'L’Italia del Rinascimento. Lo splendore della maiolica' at Palazzo Madama in Turin challenges the perception of maiolica as dusty or boring. Curated by Timothy Wilson, the show presents Renaissance maiolica as a window into private life, politics, satire, and eroticism. The display is organized thematically, exploring allegorical meanings and the relationships between patrons, recipients, and ceramists. Wilson notes that maiolica was a domestic art, often commissioned by women, and that the painted dishes served as conversation starters in intellectual circles. The exhibition also highlights the influence of Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' and Islamic art on maiolica designs. The exceptional state of conservation of the pieces, due to the tin-glaze technique, allows visitors to see original Renaissance colors. The installation by architect Diego Giachello uses transparent glass shelves and neutral backgrounds to focus attention on the objects, with a multimedia installation connecting the collection to the baroque architecture of the hall. Peter Aufreiter, director of the Museo Nazionale di Urbino, praised the sensitive display. The exhibition runs at Palazzo Madama in Turin.