A Japanese tradition from Renaissance times

Contemporary "Naked Raku" by
famous English artist David Roberts

If we wish to find something in common between late Renaissance ceramics and the wonderful contemporary ceramics of the "Naked Raku" art, we may notice that the only thing connecting the two arts is the temperature of the firing in the kiln.

Also from the point of the view of the patterns, in the "Naked Raku" there is no use of the perspective. But by researching and reading more about "Raku Nudo" (in Italian), we learn that the tradition started in Japan in the late 16th century producing small cups, also known as vessels, for their tea ceremonies.

Common Japanese tea pots

In the late 16th century in Italy, Rome was the most important center for the arts. At that time artists were converging in Rome from all over Italy and from Europe, looking for contractors, mostly working in new churches, new monasteries, newly built chapels but also for private homes, usually artistocratic families related or orbitating in the circles of Cardinals, Bishops and the Pope himself, whose state was isolated from the rest of the events of Italy.

Shield of Vatican City State

Additionally the Roman Church was going through a period of rebirth and relaunch as a reaction to the Protestant movements in Europe, while the middle class in Italy had lost its power as a consequence of the invasions of other European countries. Indeed after a long period of peace towards the end of the 15th century the French King Charles VIII invaded Italy (A.D. 1494) starting a long period of wars (called "Wars of Italy"), during which the most powerful countries in Europe fought for the control of Italy. This situation ended in 1559 only, with the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis which heavily changed the geographical profile of the peninsula.

On the other hand Europe had discovered Japan around A.D. 1542-1543 through a group of Portuguese Jesuits who ended up in Japan from China, where they had arrived as missionaries, driven to Japan in  their boat under a storm. This discovery opened new important markets to European traders, it is through this discovery and thanks to the Portuguese Jesuits that we acquired the tradition of tea in Europe. The first countries to welcome the tea tradition were France and Holland (tea was first imported by the "Dutch company of the East Indies"), then welcomed with great success by Great Britain (around A.D. 1650) where it became the national English beverage.

At the end of the 16th century this is the new pattern
that we find in Deruta ceramics. It is called "compendiario" (tr.compendiary) and
will be a distinctive pattern of the 17th century especially in central Italy.

Florence is celebrating Japanese art and heritage this year with the exhibition "Giappone, terra di incanti" (tr. Japan. Land of enchantments) from April 3rd to July 1st, 2012 at Pitti Palace, where the first Japanese ambassadors stayed in 1585, when they visited Italy for the first time.

Link to Pitti Palace - Japan. Land of enchantments