Ariadne and a Panther: C.3188-1928

Current Location: Gallery 26 (Lower Marlay)

Titles

Ariadne and a Panther

Maker(s)

Factory: Ludwigsburg Porcelain Factory
Modeller: Beyer, Johann Christian Wilhelm

Entities

Figure group

Description

Hard paste porcelain painted in polychrome enamels and gilt

Hard-paste porcelain, press-moulded,glazed, and painted in blue, shades of bluish-green, and greyish-green, yellow, flesh tones, red, purple, pale reddish-brown, reddish-brown, dark brown, grey, and black enamels, and gilt. The flat, unglazed base has a large L-shaped aperture which reveals the hollow underside of the rocky base and figure. The back, which was made separately and applied to the base, has a wide, oblong aperture, slightly curved on its lower side.
The top of the high rocky base has a short tree stump on the viewer’s left and a vine branch on the right which curves around the top of the back. A female panther reclines on the front of the rock holding a bunch of grapes between its forepaws. Its head is turned upwards and to its left, and in its open mouth it has a grape. The nude Ariadne is seated on the rock, with her left knee drawn up and her left leg extended downwards. She leans forward and looks down towards the panther. Her left arm rests on the rock, cradling a basket of grapes, other fruit and foliage. She holds a bunch of grapes in her right hand which rests on top of the basket.Her greyish-black hair is drawn back into a loose knot at the back of her head, and waving tresses hang down her back. She wears a vine wreath on her head, and has a gold bracelet on her left wrist, and a tambourine hanging on a red and gold strap which passes over her left shoulder and under her right arm.

Notes

History note: Christie’s, London 28 June 1917, lot 15; purchased for 13 ½ guineas by Mr Stoner who sold it on the same day for £16.10s.0d. to Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge. .

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Depth: 11 cm
Height: 16 cm
Width: 12.8 cm

Place(s) associated

Ludwigsburg ⪼ Ludwigsburg is Württemberg ⪼ Germany

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J.W.L.

Dating

18th Century, third quarter
Circa 1760 CE - 1765 CE

Note

The modeller J.C.W. Beyer was active at the Ludwigsburg factory between 1759 and1767

School or Style

Neoclassical

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamel ( blue, shades of bluish-green, and greyish-green, yellow, flesh tones, red, purple, pale reddish-brown, reddish-brown, dark brown, grey, and black) gold
Visible Surfaces composed of glaze

Materials used in production

Hard-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Press-moulding : Hard-paste porcelain, press-moulded in parts, assembled, glazed, and painted overglaze in blue, shades of bluish-green, and greyish-green, yellow, flesh tones, red, purple, pale reddish-brown, reddish-brown, dark brown, grey, and black enamels, and gilt. The flat, unglazed base has a large L-shaped aperture which reveals the hollow underside of the rocky base and figure. The back, which was made separately and applied to the base, has a wide, oblong aperture, slightly curved on its lower side.