Ruggiero flees the island of Alcina (?) - Francesco Xanto Avelli da Rovigo
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...
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 "
Technical Data
Notice #001437