Vase with Biblical Scenes, including the Building of the Tower of Babel and the Scattering of the People

This vase, one of a pair, is among the few pieces inscribed as from the workshop of Orazio Fontana. Orazio was recognized in his day as the innovator of the grotesque style of decoration as applied to maiolica. In color, line, and composition, this vase is superior to its pendant, but each of the vases showing biblical scenes was probably painted by more than one artisan. The range of styles and variable quality of the painting on these "signed" vases are indicative of the complexity of the productions from Orazio's workshop.