Group thumbnail 1
Group thumbnail 2
+1
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 139, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Group

ca. 1731 (made), 1731 (modelled)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels, pierced and gilded
Brief description
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.
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.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.8cm
Object history
Formerly in the collection of Palladie Foundation (sold, Sotheby, 27 June 1961, lot 105, repr.)
Historical context
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)
Production
Attribution from the manuscript catalogue dates from about 1970 and was compiled by William Hutton of the Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
C.37-1961

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest