Mourning Madonna 1756 - 1758

Franz Anton Bustelli made this Mourning Madonna from porcelain. This wasn't just any clay; it was "hard-paste" porcelain, a challenging material to work, that demanded high firing temperatures. Bustelli was a master of Rococo style, but here, the drama lies in the material. See how the porcelain captures the delicate folds of her drapery, almost as if it were fabric? It's a testament to his skill that he could coax such fluidity from a notoriously difficult medium. Porcelain in the 18th century was the cutting edge of material technology, made by a select few. The factories were highly disciplined, and the labor was organized much like any other industry. This Madonna isn’t just a symbol of grief; it’s also a sign of the times, where faith met industry. We can see the material and the making as powerful forces, shaping not only the form of the artwork but also its cultural meaning, bridging the gap between craft and fine art.