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Dwarf musician

Figurine
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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDwarf musician (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Glazed porcelain
Brief description
Figurine of a dwarf musician playing the trivet, 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
White glazed porcelain figure of a hunchback dwarf musician standing by a tree stump, playing a trivet, his right leg raised up in front of him.
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.5cm
  • Width: 4.0cm
  • Of base height: 1.0cm
  • Of base width: 4.1cm
  • Of base depth: 4.2cm
Credit line
Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996
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
Collection
Accession number
S.1011-1996

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Record createdJanuary 17, 2006
Record URL
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