The Art of Painting
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions
3 1/2 × 3 1/2 in. (8.9 × 8.9 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
German, Ludwigsburg
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
Accession Number
64.101.325
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created around 1770 at the esteemed Ludwigsburg Porcelain Manufactory in, this small hard-paste porcelain plaque celebrates the theme of painting itself. Measuring just 3 inches square, the piece likely served as a decorativeallion or box lid, its delicate surface capturing an allegorical scene featuring artists with palettes and easels alongside male and female figures. Hard-paste porcelain, perfected in Europe during the early 18th century, allowed for the fine detail and luminous finish seen here, reflecting the technical mastery of German factories competing with Meissen. Designer Gottlie...