Group
ca. 1791-1795 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In 1763 King Frederick II of Prussia acquired the porcelain factory of a Berlin merchant Johann Ernst Gotkowsky. The King gave the company its name Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur (K.P.M.) and symbol: the royal blue sceptre. After 1770 the K.P.M. factory began to use a different type of kaolin in their porcelain which created a fine white colour. This complimented the restrained Neo-classical styles of modelling the factory produced in the late-18th and early-19th century. The Neo-classical style was promoted by artists associated with the factory as demonstrated in the production of this porcelain temple group. It is from a table-set commissioned by Fredrick William II of Prussia in 1791 on the theme "The Kingdom of Nature". It was made to the design of the neo-classical architect, Hans Christian Genelli, and carried out under the chief modeller, Carl Friedrick Riese. The acclaimed sculptor, Johann Gottfried Schadow, may have made the model for the figure of Bacchus. The set included figures of the gods, the Elements and the Seasons, griffins, sphinxes, and obelisks, as well as altars to the Hours and the Graces. The Temple of Bacchus had its counterpart dedicated to Cythera (Venus). The set was used at the celebrations for double wedding of the Princess Frederike to the Duke of York and the Princess Wilhelmine to the Prince of Orange on the 29 September 1791 at Charlottenburg Palace.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilt, with ormolu fitting |
| Brief description | Group from a table-set, representing The Temple of Bacchus, hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilt, with ormolu fitting, made by the Berlin Royal Porcelain factory (Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur), Berlin, Germany, ca. 1791-95 |
| Physical description | Group representing a Temple of Bacchus, hard-paste porcelain. Circular plinth; around it a dance of nymphs in colours, on top radial palmettes in gold. In the middle a nude figure inscribed 'BACCHUS' on the plinth; surrounding this, eight biscuit columns with ormolu capitals and pedestals. Blue domed cover with gold knob and border of symmetrical floral ornament in colours below a band of gilt cresting in relief. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | The Temple of Bacchus
About 1791–95
The Berlin Royal porcelain factory specialised in unglazed porcelain figures inspired by classical marble sculpture. In this piece from an elaborate table-set made for the King of Prussia, the figure of Bacchus, god of wine, is surrounded by dancing nymphs. The set featured figures from classical mythology including gods, griffins, sphinxes, the Elements and the Seasons. It also included altars to the Hours and the Graces.
Germany (Berlin)
Made at the Berlin Royal Porcelain Factory
Designed by Hans Christian Genelli
Modelled by Carl Friedrich Riese and Johann Gottfried Schadow
Porcelain painted in enamels and gilded; gilded copper alloy fitting
From a table-set commissioned by Frederick William II of Prussia in 1791
Given by Lionel Faudel-Phillips, Esq.
(09/12/2015) |
| Credit line | Given by Lionel Faudel-Phillips, Esq. |
| Object history | From a table-set commissioned by Fredrick William II of Prussia in 1791 on the theme "The Kingdom of Nature". It was made to the design of the neoclassical architect, Hans Christian Genelli, and carried out under the chief modeller, Carl Friedrick Riese. The great sculptor, Johann Gottfried Schadow, may have made the model for the figure of Bacchus. The set included figures of the gods, the Elements and the Seasons, griffins, sphinxes, and obelisks, as well as altars to the Hours and the Graces. The Temple of Bacchus had its counterpart dedicated to Cythera (Venus). The set was described in use by Feder Rosenthiels at the celebrations for double wedding of the Princess Frederike to the Duke of York and the Princess Wilhelmine to the Prince of Orange (Royal Academy and Victoria and Albert Museum, The Age of Neoclassicism, 1972, cat. 1421). |
| Historical context | See Object History, above |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | In 1763 King Frederick II of Prussia acquired the porcelain factory of a Berlin merchant Johann Ernst Gotkowsky. The King gave the company its name Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur (K.P.M.) and symbol: the royal blue sceptre. After 1770 the K.P.M. factory began to use a different type of kaolin in their porcelain which created a fine white colour. This complimented the restrained Neo-classical styles of modelling the factory produced in the late-18th and early-19th century. The Neo-classical style was promoted by artists associated with the factory as demonstrated in the production of this porcelain temple group. It is from a table-set commissioned by Fredrick William II of Prussia in 1791 on the theme "The Kingdom of Nature". It was made to the design of the neo-classical architect, Hans Christian Genelli, and carried out under the chief modeller, Carl Friedrick Riese. The acclaimed sculptor, Johann Gottfried Schadow, may have made the model for the figure of Bacchus. The set included figures of the gods, the Elements and the Seasons, griffins, sphinxes, and obelisks, as well as altars to the Hours and the Graces. The Temple of Bacchus had its counterpart dedicated to Cythera (Venus). The set was used at the celebrations for double wedding of the Princess Frederike to the Duke of York and the Princess Wilhelmine to the Prince of Orange on the 29 September 1791 at Charlottenburg Palace. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.745:1, 2-1923 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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