The large pompous plates, that is to say exclusively for ornamental purposes to hang on the walls or to display in the cupboards, are one of the most sought-after expressions of Italian majolica and undoubtedly represent one of the evident signs of Renaissance culture. The subject depicted, a beautiful woman, is inspired by the Umbrian painting of the time and in particular by that of Pinturicchio, who had an undoubted influence on Deruta ceramics. The adjective "beautiful woman" that accompanies the name of the person to whom the offer is addressed frequently recurs in the majolica of a loving subject both in Deruta and in other centers where this genre spread, sometimes with the expression of other qualities that correspond to the Renaissance feminine ideal.
