Following the European reconquest of the Iberian peninsula and the fall of Granada in 1492, Muslim influence on Spanish ceramics diminished. In the 16th century, as Italian merchants brought Renaissance pottery to Spain, the potters themselves began to relocate. Under their influence, Spanish mayólica designs began to change from the predominantly geometric Islamic style to an Italianate Renaissance style that became known as pisano (after the Italian city of Pisa).

One important contribution of the Italian Renaissance potters was to treat tile panels as canvas. Historical, mythological and religious scenes were introduced, along with widespread use of the human figure. Both Italian and Flemish potters helped to extend the traditional Islamic color range of greens, blues, purples, and browns, to include varying hues of yellow and orange.