Pilgrim Flask, with the Arms of Fernando Ruiz de Castro, 6th Count of Lemos

Artist: Francesco Patanazzi, Italian, active 1580–1616
Date: 1599–1600
Material: Tin-glazed earthenware and pewter
made in: Urbino, Marche region, Italy, Europe
Classification: Ceramics, containers
Collection: Decorative Arts and Design
Current Location: On View, Gallery 124
Dimensions: with cap, maximum width: 16 3/8 x 10 7/8 x 5 3/4 in. (41.6 x 27.6 x 14.6 cm)
without cap: 13 7/8 x 10 1/2 x 5 3/4 in. (35.2 x 26.7 x 14.6 cm)
cap only: 3 1/2 x 2 in. (8.9 x 5.1 cm)
Credit Line: Museum Purchase
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 37:1925a,b

NOTES

With gold hues and blue accents, a whirling design of fantastic creatures flanks a central coat of arms representing the Spanish nobleman Fernando Ruiz de Castro (1548–1601). The patterns reflect wall decorations from the ancient Palace of Nero, unearthed in Rome in the late 15th century.

Provenance

Fernando Ruiz de Castro, 6th Count of Lemos (1548-1601) and Catarina de Sandoval Rojas y Borja, Countess of Lemos (1550-1628), Cuéllar, Spain; Naples, Italy [1]

Strozzi Collection, Florence, Italy [2]

J. Pierpont Morgan, New York, NY, USA [3]

- 1925
Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co., Inc., New York, NY

1925 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Arnold Selgimann, Rey & Co., Inc. [4]

Notes:
[1] The arms painted on the pilgrim bottle indicate that the object was commissioned for Fernando Ruiz de Castro, 6th count of Lemos and Viceroy of Naples from 1599-1601 [see remarks by Timothy Wilson (January 2001) and Michael J. Brody (August 2005), SLAM document files; Wilson, Timothy. "Ceramic Art of the Italian Renaissance." London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1987, cat. no. 158, pp. 135-136]. Most likely the flask belongs to a larger service commissioned by the Princess of Bisignano (probably Isabella della Rovere, daughter of Guidobaldo II, Duke of Urbino) as a gift to Caterina [Negroni, Franco. "Una famiglia di ceramisti Urbinati: I Patanazzi." "Faenza," vol. 84 (1998), pp. 108].

[2] According to the invoice from Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co., Inc. dated October 14, 1924, the piece formerly belonged to the Strozzi Collection [SLAM document files].

[3] The 1924 invoice (see note [2]) also notes that the object was formerly owned by J. Pierpont Morgan.

[4] See note [2]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, January 9, 1925.

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