Dwarf musician
Figurine
19th century (made)
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of a series of figurines produced in France in the 19th century, modelled after engravings by Jacques Callot (1592-1635). The engravings, printed in 1622, show a troupe of grotesque dwarf entertainers known as Les Gobbi, who performed in Italy for the Medici Court while Callot was working there. Dwarfs would have been regarded as amusing, and a troupe that sang and danced would have been a great novelty in the 17th century.
Born in Nancy, in Lorriane, Jacques Callot studied art and printmaking in Italy and later worked under the direct patronage of the Medicis in Florence, where he established his reputation as a fine print artist. Callot was a master of expressing the horrors and joys of 17th century life and was popular all over Europe. He returned to Nancy in 1621 after the death of Cosimo Medici and is perhaps best known today for his fine series of engravings of Commedia dell'Arte characters, many of whom were also later copied for ceramics.
Born in Nancy, in Lorriane, Jacques Callot studied art and printmaking in Italy and later worked under the direct patronage of the Medicis in Florence, where he established his reputation as a fine print artist. Callot was a master of expressing the horrors and joys of 17th century life and was popular all over Europe. He returned to Nancy in 1621 after the death of Cosimo Medici and is perhaps best known today for his fine series of engravings of Commedia dell'Arte characters, many of whom were also later copied for ceramics.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Dwarf musician (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed porcelain |
| Brief description | Figurine of a dwarf musician plucking a violin, from the troupe Les Gobbi who performed at the Medici court, Florence, ca.1620. After an engraving by Jacques Callot (1592-1635). Porcelain, French, 19th century |
| Physical description | Multi-coloured glazed porcelain figure of a masked dwarf musician plucking a violin. He holds the violin on his right shoulder and plucks the strings with his left hand. He wears a large blue hat with a white rim, a lilac cape, a patterned tunic, and stands, his right leg in front of his left, on a rococo-style integral base. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard |
| Object history | Copied after one of the 17th century engravings of Jacques Callot (1592-1635). |
| Production | After an engraving by Jacques Callot (1592-1635) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This is one of a series of figurines produced in France in the 19th century, modelled after engravings by Jacques Callot (1592-1635). The engravings, printed in 1622, show a troupe of grotesque dwarf entertainers known as Les Gobbi, who performed in Italy for the Medici Court while Callot was working there. Dwarfs would have been regarded as amusing, and a troupe that sang and danced would have been a great novelty in the 17th century. Born in Nancy, in Lorriane, Jacques Callot studied art and printmaking in Italy and later worked under the direct patronage of the Medicis in Florence, where he established his reputation as a fine print artist. Callot was a master of expressing the horrors and joys of 17th century life and was popular all over Europe. He returned to Nancy in 1621 after the death of Cosimo Medici and is perhaps best known today for his fine series of engravings of Commedia dell'Arte characters, many of whom were also later copied for ceramics. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.896-1981 |
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| Record created | January 17, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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