The Impetuous Lover

Manufacturer Meissen Porcelain Manufactory (German, founded 1710)

Modeler Johann Joachim Kändler (German, 1706 - 1775)

CultureGerman

OriginMeissen, Dresden, Germany

Datec.1743

Mediumhard-paste porcelain, enamel, and gold.

DimensionsOverall: 17 x 19.3 cm (6 11/16 x 7 5/8 in.)

MarkingsModel no. 464; marked with underglaze blue crossed swords

DescriptionMeissen group of the Impetuous Gallant, modelled by Johann Joachim Kaendler. Crossed swords in underglaze blue. A black haired lady sits on a rocky base wearing a negligee. On the right, a kneeling youth attempts to clasp her around the waist with outstretched right hand and takes her left arm with his left. The lady averts her face and tries to ward off the importunate gallant with her raised right hand. Behind the couple stands a laughing, black haired Harlequin; his right knee resting on a rock as he jeers mockingly at them. To the left of the lady rests a small white lamb. The lady wears a white negligee and a white wrap over her left shoulder decorated with "indianische Blumen" in iron-red, blue, yellow, green and purple. At her bosom and in her hair she wears a bunch of multi-coloured flowers.
The gallant is dressed in a white jacket trimmed with gilt, a white ruff and shirt, black breeches and purple rosettes. The Harlequin wears a beige tunic fastened in front by iron-red buttons and girded by a blue belt. The left side is yellow with playing card design, and the right side is white. He has blue cuffs and white ruffles at the wrist. His trousers are decorated in similar fashion to the tunic, and the shoes are black with iron-red rosettes. With a pad base, richly set with coloured flowers and leaves. Decorated after 1756

Credit LineGift of George and Helen Gardiner

Object numberG83.1.922

Classifications

European Ceramics

Sub-classification

German Porcelain

Collections

Status

Not on view