Italian fascination with ceramics began with admiration for Chinese imports. In the 16th century, Florence's Medici family produced Europe's first soft-paste pottery, decorated with Renaissance motifs. The 18th century saw the rise of hard-paste porcelain factories across Italy. These factories, like Capodimonte, painted their pots with exquisite detail, depicting everything from mythological scenes to landscapes. As porcelain became more common, its decorative themes influenced other art forms.