Plaque with Sacrifice to Hymen 1789

Curator: "Plaque with Sacrifice to Hymen," made around 1789 by the Wedgwood Manufactory. It’s currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago and demonstrates Neoclassical style through ceramic relief. Editor: My first thought is: elegant mischief! All these cherubs look like they’re about to pull off a prank at some lavish wedding. It has an almost playful vibe to it. Curator: Indeed. Formally, consider how the composition centers around a classical altar, a visual anchor for the action unfolding around it. Note the stark contrast between the cobalt blue ground and the white sprigged figures, heightened by that gilding detail around the border. The relief style is exquisite. Editor: The blue is really stunning; it really lifts those pale cherubs right off the plaque, making them more vibrant. The sacrifice imagery feels... softened, almost. I suppose the rosy, winged figures lighten the whole sacrificial element, I would imagine a classical wedding had a more reverent feeling about it, which has certainly shifted in its rendition here. Curator: Precisely. The sacrifice is symbolic. It suggests that the rite, rendered as the backdrop for marital proceedings, is elevated and becomes almost otherworldly, far removed from earthly events. Notice how the Neoclassical period always tries to do this, harkening to ancient rituals? Editor: Well, now I’m wondering what those winged instigators are really planning! Is the sacrifice truly for blessings, or did they spike the goat’s water dish with something before the ceremony began? That might make them much more mischievous than your Neoclassical aspirations give credit for! Curator: Your reading introduces levity into a classical rendering, doesn't it? My attention returns to the border, now. Editor: Right? Makes the plaque somehow contemporary too, by introducing such fun. Thanks for taking me there to meet our tiny wedding wreckers.