CIRCA 1740

Details

A RARE CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN PLATE
CIRCA 1740
Finely decorated with the Choice of Hercules, the borders of swags of laurel within gilt long cartouches in blue enamel and touches of pink, at the four compass points a baroque reserve painted en grisaille, the centre also en grisaille within a rococo border. Hercules is portrayed between the figure of Virtue, pointing upward, and that of Pleasure, pointing down, after the painting by Annibale Carracci in Naples
9 in. (22.5 cm.) diam.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The scene is derived from a painting by Annibale Carraci formerly in the Palazzo Farnese Rome and now in Naples. Famous in his life time and now, he was a Bolognese who worked in Rome. Hercules, the personification of a man strong in mind and body, is choosing between languos vice, gesturing outwards and down, and upright virtue, gesturing to higher matters. Borders of oak garlands, again symbolizing strength stretch between rococo cartouches.

Another plate of this design is illustrated in David Howard & John Ayers, China for the West, Vol. I, No. 329, p. 333.

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