Saucer (part of a service) 1743 - 1759

This is a porcelain saucer, part of a larger service, crafted by the Capodimonte Porcelain Manufactory between 1740 and 1759. Produced in Naples under the patronage of King Charles VII, Capodimonte porcelain became synonymous with the lavish tastes of European royalty, reflecting the power and wealth of its patrons. The saucer’s detailed battle scene presents us with a complex narrative. One can see how traditional representations of power and conflict play out on such a delicate, domestic object. Consider the artistry involved in depicting such a dynamic scene on a small surface. Does the violence depicted on the saucer provoke a sense of unease? The beauty and refinement of the porcelain contrast starkly with the brutality of the imagery. This tension perhaps hints at the complex relationship between art, power, and the human condition. The saucer embodies the culture of its time, while offering a lens through which to consider our own relationship to conflict and beauty.