Anselmo thumbnail 1
Anselmo thumbnail 2
+3
images
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Anselmo

Figure
ca. 1765 (made), ca. 1759-1760 (modelled)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Commedia dell’Arte, was a form of improvised street theatre, which spread from 16th-century Italy throughout Europe, and remained popular for around two centuries. Commedia dell'Arte troupes engaged in very physical acting using music, dance and acrobatics in their performances. While the plot was largely improvised, stock characters were used and were recognisable to the audience by their costumes, accents and poses. The popularity of this form of theatre inspired paintings and decorative objects depicting the commedia characters.

The eight pairs of porcelain commedia figures by Franz Anton Bustelli, created between 1759 and 1760 at Nymphenburg, capture the theatrical gestures used by the actors and are among the most important of all rococo ceramic sculptures. This figure's precise role in the commedia dell'arte is unclear today although Bustelli based him on a contemporary print engraved by Martin Engelbrecht where he is identified as Anselmo. He was originally modelled as one of a pair of figures, the other character being the lady's maid, Corine who is modelled reading a letter aloud to him. His hand gesture suggests intrigue, as he is possibly warning her to keep her voice down or stop speaking as someone is coming. The style of his hat and dress have also led him to be named as a religious figure, the Abbé.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAnselmo
Materials and techniques
Hard-paste porcelain painted with enamels and gilded
Brief description
Figure of Anselmo, from the Commedia dell' arte, in hard-paste porcelain painted with enamels and gilded, modelled by F.A. Bustelli ca. 1759-1760, made by Nymphenburg porcelain factory, Nymphenburg, ca. 1765
Physical description
Figure of Anselmo, from the Commedia dell' arte, in hard-paste porcelain painted with enamels and gilded. He is standing, knees bent, leaning forward on a stick (now missing) in his right hand. His left hand is upraised. He is wearing a black coat, hat and shoes and black flowered grey waistcoat with gilt edges, lace collar and fawn gloves. Thin rococo scrolled base picked out in gold.
Dimensions
  • Height: 18.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Shield of arms of Bavaria (Impressed)
  • '2' (Impressed)
    Translation
    The number 2 indicates the formula for the porcelain used for this model
  • 'F. B.' (Impressed)
    Translation
    The initials 'F.B.' indicate that it was an exemplar, authorised by the modeller F.A. Bustelli, for factory workmen assembling this model from press-moulded parts to follow
Object history
Bustelli created 16 paired figures from the commedia dell'arte which appear in the factory's Inventory of Moulds dated 1760. The source for this figure is a copperplate engraving by Martin Engelbrecht (dated to the mid 18th century) a copy of which is known to have been in Bustelli's possession, where the commedia characters are clearly defined and named. Anselmo is depicted as an older man, soberly dressed, wearing a cape and holding his hat and cane. Bustelli animated his character and paired him with Corinne, the lady's maid who stands reading or singing aloud (one model is known with words from a love letter signed by Leander, another with musical notes). His gesture to her hints at intrigue and may be to warn her to whisper or stop making a noise. The style of his hat and dress have also led him to be named as the Abbé. Anselmo's precise role is unknown as he only known through the Engelbrecht print.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceCommedia dell' arte
Summary
The Commedia dell’Arte, was a form of improvised street theatre, which spread from 16th-century Italy throughout Europe, and remained popular for around two centuries. Commedia dell'Arte troupes engaged in very physical acting using music, dance and acrobatics in their performances. While the plot was largely improvised, stock characters were used and were recognisable to the audience by their costumes, accents and poses. The popularity of this form of theatre inspired paintings and decorative objects depicting the commedia characters.

The eight pairs of porcelain commedia figures by Franz Anton Bustelli, created between 1759 and 1760 at Nymphenburg, capture the theatrical gestures used by the actors and are among the most important of all rococo ceramic sculptures. This figure's precise role in the commedia dell'arte is unclear today although Bustelli based him on a contemporary print engraved by Martin Engelbrecht where he is identified as Anselmo. He was originally modelled as one of a pair of figures, the other character being the lady's maid, Corine who is modelled reading a letter aloud to him. His hand gesture suggests intrigue, as he is possibly warning her to keep her voice down or stop speaking as someone is coming. The style of his hat and dress have also led him to be named as a religious figure, the Abbé.
Bibliographic references
  • Chilton, Meredith. Harlequin Unmasked: The George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art with Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2001. ISBN 0300090099. Publication on the occasion of the exhibition, includes exhibition catalogue, for another example of this figure see cat. no. 133, p. 320. For an account of the Commedia characters created by Bustelli, see cat. no. 128, p. 318.
  • Katharina Hantschmann and Alfred Ziffer, Bustelli, Nymphenburger Porzellanfiguren des Rokoko, published for the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum by C.H. Beck, 2004. Exhibition catalogue of the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, 2004. For coloured and white examples of this model, see cat. nos. 168 and 167. The source for the model, a print by Martin Engelbrecht, is given abb. 16, p. 39.
Collection
Accession number
C.457-1927

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