Description:
Chinese export porcelain plate decorated with a semi-draped man and woman seated under an overhanging tree with a bird flying overhead in the Famille rose palette in blue, pink, green, brown, and gilding. The rim is covered with gilt trelliswork with oval reserves and four pink cartouches with Chinese landscapes. This romantic scene is similar to others on Chinese porcelain where the figures have been identified as Cupid and Psyche, Adonis and Venus, Acis and Galatea, etc. However, for a similar setting, David Howard states that "this is much more likely to be a rural idyll in semi-classical form", and Hervouet and Bruneau note: "It is probable that these lovers represent an anonymous couple, accorded with a mythological character to satisfy the test for antiquity, then in fashion." Interestingly, Howard and Ayers in their, "China for the West", show a plate with a similar rim and the same well scene that also includes a sailing ship, which they describe as: "The center scene, in famille rose enamels, is an example of the occasional rapport established between Chinese enamellers and European merchants for it shows a much painted semi-classical, semi-erotic scene with a Dutch ship ready to sail - unmistakenly suggesting another 'sailor's farewell.' This is a much rarer scene and one which must predate all but the earliest of the more formal compositions. It would be of interest to know whether the idea originated from a Chinese enameller or whether it was specially ordered by a European. The latter was probably the case, because the service shows every sign of being a more elaborate design for a special customer."
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+54.047 |
