A Meissen group of pastoral lovers, circa 1745

Modelled by J.J. Kaendler, seated on rocks, the gentleman wearing a salmon-pink hat with red band and blue ribbon, a puce jacket embellished with gilt scrollwork, turquoise breeches with purple ribbons and black shows with red ribbons, a recumbent dog to his right, the lady holding a sheep, wearing a gilt-edged grey bodice, white apron and yellow skirt with a broad band of scrolling foliage and flowers and red shoes with blue bows, the base applied with leaves and flowers, 15.8cm high (minor restoration and lossses)

Provenance:
The Rosa Alba Collection of Meissen Porcelain

Literature:
U. Pietsch/K. Jakobsen, Frühes Meissener Porzellan (1997), no. 211

Exhibited:
Düsseldorf, Hetjens-Museum, 'Frühes Meissener Porzellan Kostbarkeiten aus deutschen Privatsammlungen', 19 January-6 April 1997;
Dresden, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Porzellansammlung im Zwinger, 'Frühes Meissener Porzellan Kostbarkeiten aus deutschen Privatsammlungen', 7 May-13 July 1997

The model is after a depiction by François Boucher. Kaendler's Taxa for 1740-48 states:'1 Grouppgen, ein Frauenzimmer in einer Andrijan wohlgepuzt vorstellend, ingl. einen Schäffer in seinem Habit wohl angekleidet, welche einander embrassiren, worbey noch ein Schäffgen zu befinden, 12 Thlr.' [1 group, a woman nicely dressed in an Andrijan, and a shepherd well-dressed in his costume, embracing each other, where also a sheep]. See R. Rückert, Meissener Porzellan 1710-1810 (1966), no.869, the illustrated example is a version without the tree. Another example is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.