Pierre COURTEYS

The month of April. LIMOGES second part of the 16th century. Enamel plate painted in grisaille on a black background, with salmon and gold highlights. (Old restorations, small chips) Inscription of the month of April in a cartouche on the wing, and in another one the signature P.C.. Coming from the Works of the Months series, this plate is painted on the background of a gallant scene with a madman coming out of an arbour. The woman is holding a small dog in her lap. The wing is decorated with a cartouche marked April and interlacing S. Signed PC in a small cartouche at the bottom. The reverse is decorated in the centre with a medallion depicting the sign of the bull's zodiac on a black background stitched with gold, in a border of rolled leather with four carnival heads or masks. A similar April plate, attributed to Master IC, from the Dubouché collection is kept at the Limoges museum. D.: 19.5 cm. Provenance: Former aristocratic collection from the end of the 19th century.