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Recherche infructueuse

Ruggiero flees the island of Alcina (?) - Francesco Xanto Avelli da Rovigo

Date :
1531
Type of image :
Majolique
Dimensions (HxL cm) :
⌀ 45,1 cm
William Randolph Hearst Collection, 49.26.3

Description

It has been hypothesized that the dish represents Canto VIII of Orlando furioso and Alcina's island. But while the old man with the shield is identified as Atlante with his magic shield, Atlante does not intervene in song VIII. It's more likely to be in Canto IV: while Atlante fights his last battle in front of his steel castle, Ruggiero takes to the skies, as it were, against his will on a hippogriphe that he is unable to control, as symbolized by the strange way he holds the reins. But where is Bradamante, Atlante's adversary in Canto IV? And we'd like to identify the island in the background with the island of Logistilla, towards which Ruggiero sets off at the end of Canto VIII...

History :

1. The plate is signed "Fra. Xanto Avelli da Rovigo, Urbino " and dated M.D.XXXI. An inscription on the back alluding to the fact that Roger was an ancestor of the d'Este family "which is and has always been guilty of all the foul vices "

Indexed items :
Mur de fond
Les personnages font cercle autour de la scène
Hippogriphe, Pégase, cheval ailé
Textual Sources :
ROLFUR08 : Roland furieux, chant 8

Technical Data

Notice #001437

Image HD

Past ID :
A0756
Image editing :
Scanner
Image Origin :
Collection particulière (Cachan)