Vase with mask, a nude cup-bearing figure riding a goat followed by a satyr, and reptile handles, an oval composition

Art Historical Context

This enchanting etching, titled *Vase with mask, nude cup-bearing figure riding goat followed by a satyr, and reptile handles, oval composition*, was created by Jacques Guay 1751 and 1758. Produced during the lavish Rococo era in France, it exemplifies the period's delight in whimsical, mythological motifs. Guay, a skilled engraver, crafted this intricate print classified under Ornament & Architecture likely as a design for decorative objects like porcelain vases—perfectly suiting the tastes of its notable associate, Madame la Marquise de Pompadour, Louis XV's influential patroness of the arts. The oval composition bursts with playful fantasy: a grinning mask adorns the vase, while a nude figure bearing a cup rides a goat, trailed by a mischievous satyr, all framed by sinuous reptile handles. Etching's fine lines capture the fluid, asymmetrical elegance of Rococo ornamentation, blending human, animal, and fantastical elements in a celebration of Bacchic revelry. Such prints were vital for disseminating sophisticated designs to artisans, influencing luxury goods at royal manufactories like Sèvres. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011), this work offers a window into 18th-century decorative innovation, where art met opulence in the salons of Versailles. Visitors will appreciate its lively spirit and technical precision, a testament to France's golden age of ornamental printmaking.

About the Artist

Jacques Guay|Madame la Marquise de Pompadour (French|French) · 1711 |1721 –1793 |1764

French, Marseille 1711–1793 Paris|French, Paris 1721–1764 Versailles