Cup and saucer 1760 - 1770

This delicate porcelain cup and saucer, made by the Real Fábrica de Buen Retiro, features a scene of figures in a pastoral landscape. The idyllic setting, with elegant figures amidst trees, evokes a sense of cultivated leisure, reminiscent of scenes found in Renaissance paintings. The figures, dressed in the attire of the 18th century, echo a longing for a simpler, more harmonious existence, a theme that resonated deeply with the elite of the time. This yearning for Arcadia, a mythical place of peace and simplicity, has roots that stretch back to ancient Greece. We see it echoed in the art of the Renaissance, in the landscapes of Claude Lorrain, and even in contemporary works. The cup and saucer, with its pastoral scene, becomes a vessel not just for tea, but for the emotions and memories linked to this timeless longing. Its beauty engages us on a deep, subconscious level, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a world that perhaps never was, yet continues to captivate our imagination.