"Pilgrim Flask" with Mercury and Psyche, Francesco Xanto Avelli, 1530 (Renaissance)

This vessel, one of the earliest signed and dated works by xanto avelli, is shaped like the flasks carried by traveling pilgrims, hence its name. The image of the god mercury carrying his beloved, the mortal psyche, to mt. Olympus is adapted from an engraving by marcantonio raimondi (ca. 1475-1530), the most famous renaissance engraver, after a wall-painting by raphael in the villa farnesina in rome. Date: 1530 (Renaissance). Place of creation: Urbino, Italy. Dimensions: height: 36.5 cm (14.3 in); width: 22.4 cm (8.8 in). Medium: earthenware. Collection: Walters Art Museum. Francesco Xanto Avelli - "Pilgrim Flask" with Mercury and Psyche - Walters 481373