The painted pottery of Italy, ever since its introduction into that country in the 15th century, has been called by the Italians themselves _Maiolica_. In England it was in the 18th century called _Raphael ware_, on account of an impression which existed that Raphael himself condescended to paint on some of the ware. The idea probably originated from the fact that many designs were reproduced on maiolica by the keramic artists from engravings of Raphael and other great masters. The best period of this pottery was, however, subsequent to his death, which took place in 1520. The term _maiolica_ appears to be derived or rather corrupted from Maiorca, one of the Balearic Islands, noted for its pottery from a very early period. It was in the 16th century called _Maiorica_, and subsequently _Maiolica_. URBINO Urbino was one of the most celebrated of all the Italian _fabriques_, and must have had by far the most trade, although no doubt many of the specimens now attributed to this city were the works of other manufactories; there are, however, a considerable number of signed and dated pieces, and the style and touch of the principal artists engaged there may easily be detected. The best known of all the keramic artists of Urbino was Francesco Xanto Avelli da Rovigo, whose works are now so highly appreciated; he usually painted after the designs and engravings of Raphael and other great masters, but seldom adhered strictly to the grouping of the originals; he also painted subjects from Virgil, Ovid, and other poets. The marks which he placed upon his works consisted of one or more initial letters of his name, F.X.A.R., but usually the X. only, or sometimes Xanto, with the date. (See Fig. 1.) [Illustration: FIG. 1.--PLATEAU. MARRIAGE OF ALEXANDER AND ROXANA. _After Raphael. Signed and dated_ "XANTO, 1533."] [Illustration: FIG. 2.--PLATEAU, WITH LEDA AND THE SWAN IN CENTRE. _16th Century._] Another celebrated artist of Urbino, who flourished in the middle of the 16th century, was Orazio Fontana, whose family name was Pellipario; Fontana being a name taken in consequence of several of the family being manufacturers of vases as well as artists. [Illustration: FIG. 3.--PLATEAU. BY ALFONSO PATANAZZI, 1606.] The family of Patanazzi worked in the early part of the 17th century. Alfonso Patanazzi signed his pieces of the years 1606 and 1607 in full, as well as Alf. P. and A. P. (See Fig. 3.) [Illustration: FIG. 4.--VASE. APOLLO AND DAPHNE. _Circa_ 1580.] [Illustration: FIG. 5.--CRUET. _About_ 1570.] GUBBIO