CYRUS ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE OF PERSEPOLIS TO FIGHT ASTYAGES-AN ITALIAN MAIOLICA 'ISTORIATO' PLAQUE

CYRUS ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE OF PERSEPOLIS TO FIGHT ASTYAGES - AN INTALIAN MAIOLICA 'ISTORIATO' PLAQUE

BY FRANCESCO XANTO AVELLI, SIGNED, URBINO, 1536

number 10 from a series of probably 40 plaques, of rectangular form, painted with a scene from the Life of Cyrus (Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, Book 1, Ch. VI ), showing Cyrus standing on a low pedestal to the left hand end of a low refectory table covered with the elements of a meal, he extolling the people of Persepolis to join him and rise up against King Astyages. The scene is set beneath a fruiting grape bower with a coastal scene of buildings and mountains in the background. Cyrus is asking the rhetorical question of the people 'Qua[m] vobis vita[m] preferita[m] superioris diei an prese[n]tem eligitis', translated as 'Which do you choose as your preferred life, yesterday's or today's'. Across the lower edge of the plaque are Xanto's autograph 'F.X.R.' in red and the inscription 'Ciri manus ex Persepuli. Just: Hist: de bellis exter: no.10' in black. This translates as 'The troops of Cyrus from Persepolis. The history of Foreign Wars by Justin: no.10'. The plaque is mounted in an ebonised box frame with a mahogany outer frame. A paper label to the back of the box frame is inscribed 'Oblong Majolica Plaque. Many figures seated at a table under an arch of vines and grapes. Subject from the Life of Cyrus, inscription at the bottom, by Xanto, signed F.X.R. 12 1.2in. by 11 1/2 in. From the Fountaine Collection. Bought at Sotheby's 18 June 1884. £23.2.'

29.7cm x 27.5cm

Provenance

The Sir Andrew Fountaine Collection, Narford Hall, Norfolk

Christie, Manson & Woods, The Fountaine Collection of Majolica, Henri II. Ware, Palissy Ware, Nevers Ware, Limoges Enamels, Monday 18th June 1884, lot 363 where sold for £23 s.2.

General Pitt Rivers

By decent to Stella Pitt Rivers.

Gifted to our vendors parents who were employed by the Pitt Rivers Family.

Source text

Epitome of Pompeius Trogus by Justin, Books 1-20

Edited and translated by JC Yardley and published by Harvard University Press, Cambridge Massachusetts, London England, 2024

“There, summoning the people, he told everyone to come with axes at the ready to fell a wood bordering the road. When they vigorously complied, he the next day invited the same people to a feast prepared for them; then when he saw spirits raised just by the feast, he asked what sort of life they would take if given the choice, yesterday’s work or that day’s banquet. When everyone cried out “today’s feast”, he said all their life would be like yesterday’s labour for as long as they obeyed the Medes, but like today’s feast if they followed him. Everyone pleased, he made war on the Medes”.