Large Genre Figurine by M.V. Acier for Meissen, Germany, 1850

Details

Description

Depiction of a sleeping young beauty in elaborate rococo attire with ornate lace trimmings and her hair tied back in … Read more Depiction of a sleeping young beauty in elaborate rococo attire with ornate lace trimmings and her hair tied back in a large bow, seated on a chair with her arm resting on a small side table; a small letter is tucked into the deep neckline of her bodice, and her shoes lie in front of her on the stone floor. The figure stands on a rectangular stone plinth with a projecting circular segment at the front and a gold border. Exquisite, meticulous attention to detail and ornamentation. The model was created under the strong influence of an etching by jean-michel moreau the younger (1741–1814), based on a drawing by the renowned genre painter jean-baptiste greuze (1725–1805). This depicts a slumbering woman, represented as an allegorical figure of philosophy, amidst the traditional attributes of a scholar’s study: a desk with a quill pen, a pile of books and a celestial globe. The model was anne-gabrielle babuti, the wife of jean-baptiste greuze, who produced the original drawing for moreau to reproduce. Contracts with engravers show that anne-gabrielle was actively involved in the production of her husband’s works for the print market. Although she appears gentle here, anne-gabrielle had a reputation for being greedy and promiscuous. Greuze filed for divorce when this became legally possible in 1793, claiming that his wife had ‘driven adultery to the point of shamelessness and cynicism to the point of unimaginable insolence’. The figure is also associated with the opera ‘le déserteur’, premiered in 1769, by the french composer pierre-alexandre monsigny with a libretto by michel-jean sedaine, whose main character is named louise. Designed by michael victor acier (1736 - 1799) skilled as a sculptor in paris, he received a call to the porcelain manufactory in meissen in 1764, and was there, after k ndler's death in 1775, solely responsible for the artistic interests of the manufactory. He created a large number of groups in the watteau style. In 1780 acier was called to dresden to become royal saxon master modeler. Design of model e 58 circa 1774. Manufactory: meissen germany dating: circa 1850 material: white porcelain, glossy finish technique: handmade porcelain, finest hand painting dimensions: height: 18,5 cm / 7.28 in width: 12,5 cm / 4.92 in depth: 13,5 cm / 5.31 in marks: blue meissen crossed sword mark pommels on hilts / first quality model number: e 58 / former's number 124 / painter's number 5 bibliography: thomas & sabine bergmann, meissen figures, model numbers a 1 - z 99, erlangen, germany, 2014, catalogue number 71 on page 51. Condition: very good this piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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