A signed Castel Durante maiolica plaque second quarter of 18th Century

painted by Francesco Maria Doiz, depicting the crowned Virgin of Mercy (Misericordia), standing with her arms outspread, holding out an ample cloak under which the penitent are kneeling



 

some colour flaking to the lower edge of the plaque (c. 2.5cm. x 1cm.), otherwise in very good condition
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

It is possible that the plaque was commissioned by an individual donor - kneeling on the Virgins left side - as a thanksgiving for victory in war or for protection of his family against the plague.

Francesco Maria Doiz was born at the beginning of the 18th century in Urbania, son of a Flemish immigrant, Johannes Martinus de Duijts from Antwerp. It is recorded that he lived in Fano and worked around 1756 in Bartolommeo Nascimberi's and Filippo Fratini's workshop.
There appear to be only two other pieces signed by Francesco Maria Doiz: A circular plaque in the Museum for Applied Arts in Berlin depicting the sons of Jacob and signed F.M Doiz and a plate at the Galeria Nazionale delle Marche in Urbino depicting  the journey of the Queen of Saba and signed F.M. Doits fiamengo fecit. See T. Hausmann, Kataloge des Kunstgewerbemuseums Berlin VI, Spanische und Italienische Keramik vom 14. bis zum 18. Jahrhundert, p. 394-396.
For a maiolica pierced holy-water stoop, possibly made by F.M Doiz see Sotheby's London, 21.04.98, lot 13, where the reverse of the plaque is inscribed A di ii Genaio 1729 F:M:D.

We are very grateful to John Mallet for his assistance with the cataloguing of this lot