Plate depicting a lady with parasol 1729 - 1742

This 18th-century blue and white porcelain plate, created by Dutch artist Cornelis Pronk, depicts a scene of two Chinese ladies in a garden setting. The central scene shows a woman holding a parasol over the head of another woman while birds and flowers decorate the background. The plate's border features a repeating pattern of geometric shapes and stylized floral motifs, executed in the "chinoiserie" style, which was popular in Europe during this period. The "chinoiserie" style, derived from European interpretations of Chinese art and design, is seen in the use of elaborate decorative elements, and the depiction of figures in traditional Chinese dress and poses. This plate, now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fascinating example of how European artists and artisans adapted and integrated elements of Asian art into their own work.