Bernard Palissy was an artist, scientist, inventor and one of the most extraordinary figures in the history of ceramics. Driven by religious faith, a fascination with nature, and an obsession to discover the secret of white enamel, he devoted years to relentless experimentation, sacrificing his fortune, and burning almost everything he owned in pursuit of perfection. In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene uncover the remarkable life of the French Renaissance potter whose distinctive rustic wares transformed European ceramics.
Featured Artworks:
Self Portrait in Faience, Bernard Palissy, 1862
Rustique figuline, attributed to Bernard Palissy, French c.1560, J. Paul Getty Museum.
‘Rustique Figuline’ Dish with a white background, Bernard Palissy, c. 1550, National Ceramic Museum
Maiolica Plate, Italian, ca. 1500, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Bowl, Majolica, Italian, 1480-1500, The V&A Collection
Dish, Bernard Palissy, 17th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Plaque depicting Bernard Palissy, Multiple Artists and Makers, 1846, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Pilgrim Flask, Bernard Palissy, 1556-67, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Still-life platter, Bernard Palissy, c. 1550,
Dish, Bernard Palissy, c. 1580,
Moule, Fragment, 16th century, Musee du Louvre
Grenouille de fontaine, Atelier de Bernard Palissy, 1565-1610, Musee du Louvre
Château de la Bâstie d'Urfé, France, 1550
Henry II, King of France, François Clouet, 1559
Catherine de' Medici, François Clouet, c. 1560
Fontaine en forme de dauphin, 1600-1650, Musee du Louvre
Ewer, Saint Porchaire Ware, c. 1550, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Mould of Palissy Basin, Musee du Louvre
Tazza with cover, Mid 16th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
La Nourrice, Guillaume Dupré (unconfirmed), c. 1640, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Plate, Manner of Bernard Palissy, Late 19th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Platter, Follower of Bernard Palissy, Last Quarter 16th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Platter, Manner of Bernard Palissy, 2nd half of 19th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Round Plate with Lobster, Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, 1889, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Turkey, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory,19th Century
Artichoke Jar, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory
Cabbage Ware, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory
Round Dish with Lobster and Shells, Thomas Victor-Sergent, 1870-80, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Large Basin with Snake, Ferns, and Bark, Charles-Jean Avisseau, C. 1850-55, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Sound Mix and Engineering: Joe Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Palissy - Obsession, Faith and Myth
00:02:13 A Troubled Age: France in Religious Turmoil
00:04:24 Early Life: The Self-Taught Rustique
00:12:08 The Catalytic Moment: Falling in Love with a Cup
00:17:07 Obsession and Sacrifice: Burning the Floorboards
00:20:03 The Rustiques Figulines: Nature Cast in Clay
00:24:18 Royal Patronage: Catherine de Medici and the Court
00:26:16 The Saint-Porchaire Mystery: A Lost Attribution
00:29:20 Public Intellectual: Lecturer on Science and Nature
00:30:54 Dangerous Faith: The Huguenot Who Wouldn't Hide
00:32:41 The Bastille: A Tragic End
00:33:22 Legacy: From Sons to Revival
00:34:33 Attribution Challenges: Real, School, or Revival?
00:39:37 Eternal Inspiration: Palissy's Enduring Impact
