Plate “The Fall of the Giants”

This “Istoriato” (ital. for “stories“) plate is a great example for the reception of contemporary artistic models by Maiolica painters in the 16th century. Depicted on the plate, you can find “The War of the Titans,” in Greek mythology an 11-year war between two generations of Gods, which ended with the Fall of the Titans from Olympus. The leader of the one side is Cronus, on the other, victorious side his children are fighting led by Zeus. Subject, source, and date are noted on the back. The depiction is guided by Perino del Vaga’s fresco in the Hall of the Giants in the Palazzo Doria in Genua, which was probably available to Durantino in the form of an engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi.