Shepherd lovers
Original title: Shepherd lovers
kurzbeschreibung
The porcelain group Schäferliebende was made at the Meissen Manufactory around 1742–45. It depicts a kissing couple in shepherd's costume. Made of hard-paste porcelain, the figure measures 28.6 cm in height.
Description
A loving couple in shepherd's garments is shown in a close embrace, kissing. Two dogs stand to the side of the figures, and a tree forms the backdrop. The garments are richly modelled and naturalistic. The layout feels balanced: the figures occupy the centre, while the tree provides a frame. Floral patterns adorn the porcelain surface.
Context
As the first European porcelain manufactory, Meissen produced porcelain from 1710. Shepherd scenes were highly popular in mid-eighteenth-century Rococo art; they embodied the courtly ideal of rural idyll and love. Such figure groups were often used as table decoration or as gifts.
Impact
A delicate, romantic mood emanates from the group, carried by the balanced arrangement and the calm posture of the figures. The careful modelling and the floral decorations give the work an elegant, playful note.
Technique
The figure was made of hard-paste porcelain, a mixture of kaolin, feldspar and quartz fired at high temperatures. Before firing, the details and ornaments were modelled; then came glazing and painting.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)