Group

Physical description

Figure group of St John Nepomuk with angels, of hard-paste porcelain painted with enamels and gilded. Kneeling on a cloud on which also rests a circle of five stars, and adoring the Cross held by one of four putto angels. No base, the bottom pierced for attachment to a separate porcelain pedestal. Chiefly black and gold, with brown hair and flesh tones sketchily applied and pale in tone.

Place of Origin

Meissen, Germany (made)

Date

ca. 1731 (made)
1731 (modelled)

Artist/maker

Kirchner, Johann Gottlieb, born 1706 (modeller)
Meissen porcelain factory (manufacturer)

Materials and Techniques

Hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels, pierced and gilded

Dimensions

Height: 29.8 cm

Object history note

Formerly in the collection of Palladie Foundation (sold, Sotheby, 27 June 1961, lot 105, repr.)

Historical context note

In October 1731 drawings for "Altären" were sent by the King to the manufactory, as a result of which Kirchner made a St. Nepomuk "so nebst Postament 1 elle lang ist". Kirchner had difficulties, modelling the Nepomuk no less than five times; nonetheless two examples were successfully fired in November; three examples ready for firing in December (Sponsel, p. 52). Deliveries to the Dresden depot for the new Elector 7 March 1733 included: "1 Johannes nepomucenus-Figur mit beschlaganem Postamente und 1 Crucifix dabey". (Berling, K. Festive Publication, Dresden, 1911, p. 13; Zimmermann, E. Kirchner, 1929, pp. 14-15, 30)

Descriptive line

Figure group of St John Nepomuk with angels, hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilded, modelled by J. G. Kirchner, 1731, made by Meissen porcelain factory, Germany, ca. 1731.

Production Note

Attribution from the manuscript catalogue dates from about 1970 and was compiled by William Hutton of the Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio.

Materials

Hard paste porcelain

Techniques

Painted; Gilded; Pierced

Subjects depicted

Star; Cloud; John

Categories

Porcelain; Ceramics; Figures & Decorative ceramics

Collection code

CER