Basin

Bernard Palissy

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The basin’s center is occupied by the figure of Temperance, one of the four cardinal virtues, who prepares to pour water into her wine cup to symbolize the concept of moderation. She is surrounded by personifications of the four elements (water, earth, fire, and air), over which she rules; on the rim are vignettes featuring the seven liberal arts, presided over by Minerva (Athena), the Roman goddess of wisdom. The ewer for this basin (53.225.29) is decorated with representations of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Attesting to the close relationship between metalwork and ceramics at the time, this allegorically themed set was made after pewter originals by François Briot (ca. 1550–ca. 1612).

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The fifty thousand objects in the Museum's comprehensive and historically important collection of European sculpture and decorative arts reflect the development of a number of art forms in Western European countries from the early fifteenth through the early twentieth century. The holdings include sculpture in many sizes and media, woodwork and furniture, ceramics and glass, metalwork and jewelry, horological and mathematical instruments, and tapestries and textiles. Ceramics made in Asia for export to European markets and sculpture and decorative arts produced in Latin America during this period are also included among these works.

Metropolitan Museum of Art