Few blues in the history of painting equal the electric indigos and aquas that ornament the baked enamel crafted in the 15th and 16th centuries for princes and prelates in the French city of Limoges. These extraordinary hues, combined with lesser colors, were used by master craftsmen to limn exquisitely detailed pictures on altarpieces, caskets. ewers and platters, garnished lavishly with silver and gold. Subjects range from the Annunciation to the labors of Hercules, and some panels even chronicle minor themes like the French proverb of the bad shepherd.* The finest U.S. collection...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
