Psyche and Cupid

1765-67

German, 1725-1806

Neoclassicism was gaining a foothold in the European porcelain factories by the mid-1760s, when Johann Christian Wilhelm Beyer modeled the figural groups showing Psyche revived by Cupid's kiss and Venus with Adonis. Proponents of neoclassicism expressed their distaste for frivolous porcelain figures in the rococo style, but supported the use of antique statues as appropriate models for porcelain figures. That was the stricture followed by Beyer when he modeled these classical figures. Rather than what they viewed as amoral portrayals of the gods and goddesses during the rococo period, the proponents of neoclassicism focused on graceful representations of the Olympians as depictions of physical beauty.

Hard paste porcelain

14 x 6 in. (35.56 x 15.24 cm)

Gift of Martha and Henry Isaacson

76.89

Provenance: Collection of Mr and Mrs Henry and Martha Isaacson, unknown purchase date until 1976; gift from Mr and Mrs Henry and Martha Isaacson to Seattle Art Museum, Washington, 1976

Photo: Paul Macapia

Now on view at the Seattle Art Museum

Media

Image Coming Soon

SAM's Porcelain Room

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Porcelain Stories: From China to Europe", February 17, 2000-May 7, 2000 (2/17/2000 - 5/7/2000)

Published ReferencesEmerson, Julie, Jennifer Chen, & Mimi Gardner Gates, "Porcelain Stories, From China to Europe", Seattle Art Museum, 2000, pg. 265

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