Medici vase with a scene of the château at Saint-Cloud (one of a pair)
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain decorated in polychrome enamels, gold, gilt bronze
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 27 1/4 x 18 1/2 x 18 1/2 in. (69.2 x 47 x 47 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
French, Sèvres
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Rogers and 2011 Benefit Funds, and Gift of Dr. Mortimer D. Sackler, Theresa Sackler and Family, 2011
Accession Number
2011.545
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the majestic *Medici vase with a scene of the château Saint-Cloud*, one an exquisite pair crafted in 1811 at the Sèvres Manuf, France's premier porcelain works. Standing over two feet tall, this hard-paste porcelain masterpiece—adorned with vibrant polychrome enamels, accents, and ornate gilt bronze—captures a panoramic view of Napoleon I's beloved summer palace at Saint-. Teeming with horses, carriages, lush gardens, and grand houses, the scene evokes the opulence of the Napoleonic Empire. Commissioned under Napoléon Bonaparte's patronage and painted by Jean François Robert, the vase exemplifies Sèvres' mastery of Empire-style porcelain, blending technical innovation with imperial propaganda. Hard-paste porcelain allowed for the factory's signature translucency and durability, while the intricate enameling technique produced lifelike details rivaling oil paintings. Saint-Cloud, tragically destroyed in 1870, symbolized Napoleon's power; such vases were diplomatic gifts or status symbols for Europe's elite. Today, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this treasure highlights Sèvres' cultural dominance, merging artistry with history in a dazzling display of 19th-century luxury.
About the Artist
Jean François Robert|Sèvres Manufactory|Napoléon Bonaparte (French|French) · 1778 |1740 –1832 |9999
French, Chantilly 1778–1832|French, 1740–present