Plate with border of grotesques on an orange ground and three shields of the arms of the Gritti of Venice; in the center, putti holding another shield of the same arms

Probably Faenza or Venice 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a colorful decorative plate. The central part of the plate displays a blue and white shield with a cross flanked by two cherubic figures on a yellow and green background. Surrounding the central image is a white band, and beyond that is a richly decorated border with floral and abstract designs in blue and white on an orange background. Three smaller shields with crosses are interspersed within this border in yellow circles. Throughout the swirling white and blue designs are several strange faces with features like wings and horns. The design of an open book is also repeated several times.