Buckle Ornament
ca. 1785 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This Wedgwood jasperware plaque is decorated with the figure of Poor Maria, a character from Laurence Sterne's fabulously popular novel of 1768, A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy. The novel was received with rapturous enthusiasm and inspired the creation of paintings and prints based on scenes from the book, but also small personal items such as brooches, snuff boxes, fan mounts and buckles for belt, shoe or knee breeches. This plaque would have been set into a buckle, possibly with cut steel mounts.
Poor Maria is depicted sitting under a poplar, mourning her lost lover. She is recognisable by the small dog Sylvio, who keeps her company and by the flute in her lap. This plaque has a pair decorated with an image of The Bourbonnais Shepherd. The Shepherd, who is often shown as a counterpart to Maria, makes only a passing appearance in the text, described as "the roughest peasant who traverses the bleakest mountain", but he provides a useful foil to the lovelorn and pitiable Maria. Shepherd and shepherdess figures appealed to a romantic sensibility, acting as totems of a simpler, picturesque life.
Poor Maria is depicted sitting under a poplar, mourning her lost lover. She is recognisable by the small dog Sylvio, who keeps her company and by the flute in her lap. This plaque has a pair decorated with an image of The Bourbonnais Shepherd. The Shepherd, who is often shown as a counterpart to Maria, makes only a passing appearance in the text, described as "the roughest peasant who traverses the bleakest mountain", but he provides a useful foil to the lovelorn and pitiable Maria. Shepherd and shepherdess figures appealed to a romantic sensibility, acting as totems of a simpler, picturesque life.
Delve deeper
Discover more about this object
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Jasperware |
Brief description | Jasperware buckle ornament with relief of 'Poor Maria' from Laurence Sterne's novel, after a design by Lady Templetown, Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, ca. 1785. |
Physical description | Jasperware buckle ornament, oval in shape, with relief of a girl and dog seated beneath a tree, in white on an olive-green ground. |
Dimensions |
|
Marks and inscriptions | 'Wedgwood' (impressed) |
Gallery label | Buckle ornament with relief depicting a girl seated with a dog beneath a tree
After a design by Lady Templetown, made at the factory of Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, Staffordshire, about 1785
Mark: 'Wedgwood', impressed
Jasperware
464-1890 Jodrell Collection(23/05/2008) |
Credit line | The Jodrell Collection |
Object history | 'Poor Maria' after a design by Lady Templetown. The Collection was the bequest of Mrs. Amelia Vertue Jodrell, who asked in her will for the credit line to read 'The Jodrell Collection'. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This Wedgwood jasperware plaque is decorated with the figure of Poor Maria, a character from Laurence Sterne's fabulously popular novel of 1768, A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy. The novel was received with rapturous enthusiasm and inspired the creation of paintings and prints based on scenes from the book, but also small personal items such as brooches, snuff boxes, fan mounts and buckles for belt, shoe or knee breeches. This plaque would have been set into a buckle, possibly with cut steel mounts. Poor Maria is depicted sitting under a poplar, mourning her lost lover. She is recognisable by the small dog Sylvio, who keeps her company and by the flute in her lap. This plaque has a pair decorated with an image of The Bourbonnais Shepherd. The Shepherd, who is often shown as a counterpart to Maria, makes only a passing appearance in the text, described as "the roughest peasant who traverses the bleakest mountain", but he provides a useful foil to the lovelorn and pitiable Maria. Shepherd and shepherdess figures appealed to a romantic sensibility, acting as totems of a simpler, picturesque life. |
Associated object | |
Collection | |
Accession number | 464-1890 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | March 31, 2008 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest