may be noted, and surrounding medallions having portrait or fanciful heads on a yellow ground. Subject pieces do not appear to have been so abundantly painted at Castel Durante as at the neighbouring fabriques, and such pieces to which the lustre enrichment has been added are still less frequent.
Many of the tazze the whole surfaces of which are covered with a portrait head may probably be assigned to this place, where there would appear to have been one or two artists who made almost a specialty of this style of decoration. The South Kensington museum is rich in these portrait plates; among them is a remarkable example on which a likeness of Pietro Perugino in full face is portrayed (p. [135]) and which we are disposed to assign to this fabrique, but always with some hesitation. Another class of pieces which we believe to have been for the most part made at Castel Durante is that ornamented with oak branches painted yellow on a blue ground, and sometimes in relief, surrounding a small medallion central portrait or imaginary head.
Castel Durante seems to have supplied a larger number of pharmacy jars, vases and bottles, than any other fabrique perhaps with the exception of Faenza. The blue and yellow draperies of the earlier period were also a leading feature in the revival after 1730, and a washy green was also used; the drawing was good and some of the landscape pieces excellent, of careful finish, soft colouring and good aërial perspective. It is very probable, however, that many pieces of this period were really the produce of Castelli or Naples.
CHAPTER XIII.
Urbino.
Although not to be ranked with the earliest seats of the manufacture of artistic pottery in Italy, there is no place so much associated with these beautiful productions of the potter’s art as the small city of Urbino, whence, indeed, was derived one of the names by which it is distinguished. Crowning a steep among the many hills of Umbria, remarkable in the landscape from her picturesque position and the towering palace of her dukes, Urbino is one of those very curious cities with which Italy abounds, and which centre round themselves an individual history of the greatest interest. What giants of art and of literature were born or nurtured in that little town! now so neglected and unknown. He who, climbing the steep ascent and tortuous narrow streets, has visited the deserted halls and richly decorated cabinets of her palace, and has travelled through the beauteous scenery of her neighbourhood, to where the delicious valley of the Tiber bursts upon the sight, will never forget the impressions that they leave.