A veritable technical tour de force typical of Limousin production during the Renaissance, this large polychrome enamel plate stages a highly symbolic biblical episode, loaded here with satirical connotations.

Martial Courteys
Dish : The Great Whore of Babylon
Circa 1580
Limoges
Enamel painted on copper, silver paillons and gold highlighting
39,2 x 54,7 x 4,2 cm
FGA-AD-OBJ-0053

Narrated by Dr. Fabienne Fravalo, Curator of the decorative arts collection.

"This large oval plate in painted enamel depicts the Great Whore of Babylon, extravagantly dressed and sitting astride the seven-headed beast of the Apocalypse. From the New Testament, this scene offers, in the midst of the Protestant Reformation, a critical metaphor of the Roman Church: the Catholic community (represented by the emperor, king, pope, monk and bishop) kneel before the female figure wearing the papal tiara.

Produced in Limoges in the late 16th century, this piece combines Germanic iconography, derived from Dürer, with grotesque motifs typical of the Fontainebleau School, on the borders and reverse side."