Orazio Fontana (1510–1571) was an Italian potter and maiolica painter, who introduced ''istoriato'' maiolica in Urbino.

Biography

He was born in

Castel Durante Urbania is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region of Marche, located about west of Ancona and about southwest of Pesaro, next to the river Metauro. Urbania borders the following municipalities: A ...

as the son of Guido Durantino, who was also known as Guido Fontana. Along with his father and his brothers Camillo and Nicola, he ran a workshop for several decades. He finally moved with his family to Urbino from the 1530s onwards, where he set up his own workshop in grotesques in 1565. Supported by Duke Guidobaldo II of Urbino, Orazio introduced ''istoriato'' maiolica in the area, hence contributing to the development of new center of maiolica production and innovation. Later on he concentrated on luxury wares of the ''Spezieria'' (Medical Dispensary attached to the Palace at Urbino) with surprisingly sculptural, sometimes even fantastic shapes, leaving the plainer, and probably more profitable, white and common wares to his father. Together with his workshop he realized great commissions, including table service for

Anne de Montmorency Anne, Duke of Montmorency, Honorary Knight of the Garter (15 March 1493, Chantilly, Oise12 November 1567, Paris) was a French soldier, statesman and diplomat. He became Marshal of France and Constable of France and served five kings. Early lif ...

. He died in Urbino in 1571. The ''rinfrescatoi'' basin in the District Museum in

Tarnów Tarnów () is a city in southeastern Poland with 105,922 inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of 269,000 inhabitants. The city is situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999. From 1975 to 1998, it was the capital of the Tarnów ...

created between 1565–1571, is one of the best examples of Orazio's workshop artistry combining grotesque sculpture, original form with colourful painted decoration.

References

1510 births 1571 deaths 16th-century Italian painters Italian male painters Italian potters Artists from Urbino {{Italy-painter-16thC-stub