Nicola Pellipario

Italian pottery painter

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July 1, 2026

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Nicola Pellipario was a renowned Italian pottery painter, celebrated for his work in the istoriato style. This style, originating in Faenza, Italy, around 1500, involved painting serious, Renaissance-style scenes onto maiolica ware. Pellipario, who worked in Castel Durante and Urbino, was considered the greatest istoriato painter. His work often featured lyrical interpretations of mythological subjects, drawn from sources like Ovid and Lucian, and was characterized by a soft, harmonious palette. His artistic contributions significantly shaped the development of decorative pottery during the 16th century.12

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pottery
Majolica
…associated with the name of Nicola Pellipario, the greatest of the majolica painters. He also painted grotesques similar to those of Deruta, in Umbria, which are rather more stylized than the grotesques introduced later in the 16th century at Urbino that are humourous and full of movement. The former are…
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…associated with the name of Nicola Pellipario, the greatest of the majolica painters. He also painted grotesques similar to those of Deruta, in Umbria, which are rather more stylized than the grotesques introduced later in the 16th century at Urbino that are humourous and full of movement. The former are…
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istoriato style
The greatest istoriato painter was Nicola Pellipario, who decorated Castel Durante and Urbino wares. His palette is soft and harmonious, and his subjects, drawn chiefly from Ovid and Lucian, are lyrically rendered. Many pieces of a service produced for Isabella d’Este, and another for the Ridolfis, survive in museums. The…
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The greatest istoriato painter was Nicola Pellipario, who decorated Castel Durante and Urbino wares. His palette is soft and harmonious, and his subjects, drawn chiefly from Ovid and Lucian, are lyrically rendered. Many pieces of a service produced for Isabella d’Este, and another for the Ridolfis, survive in museums. The…
Read More

Urbino majolica
The most notable are Nicola Pellipario, who worked at Castel Durante originally and at Urbino from 1528, and Francesco Xanto Avelli of Rovigo (flourished 1529–42). Nicola, who introduced and developed the istoriato style at Urbino, painted in the workshop of his son Guido (who took the name Fontana), drawing…
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The most notable are Nicola Pellipario, who worked at Castel Durante originally and at Urbino from 1528, and Francesco Xanto Avelli of Rovigo (flourished 1529–42). Nicola, who introduced and developed the istoriato style at Urbino, painted in the workshop of his son Guido (who took the name Fontana), drawing…
Read More