Drug bottle with floral bouquet
This bottle is one of a pair likely painted by Saverio Grue (1731-1799) or Gesualdo Fuina (1755-1822), master ceramicists from Castelli d'Abruzzo in southern Italy. This beautifully painted bouquet of irises and other flowers is a testament to the painter’s virtuosity. In contrast, the applied foot shows another artist’s hand, revealing a collaborative creative process. From the form and the abbreviations for Aqua Rosa Rubra we know the vessel contained rose water, an ingredient in a variety of products ranging from cosmetics and perfume, to drinks and cooking.