Winter c. 1755

This porcelain sculpture, “Winter,” was made by the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. Meissen, established in Germany in the early 18th century, was the first European factory to successfully produce porcelain, a commodity previously imported from China at great expense. This sculpture exemplifies how Meissen used porcelain to emulate classical sculpture, aligning themselves with the prestige of ancient art. The figure of Winter, draped in a fur-lined cloak, leans on a classical pedestal adorned with symbols of the season: a brazier for warmth, a bottle perhaps containing spirits to keep the cold at bay, and dead game as a source of food. It evokes the tradition of representing the seasons through allegorical figures, a popular theme in European art. The sculpture therefore speaks to a culture of elite patronage and collecting. Understanding this work requires knowledge of the economic conditions that allowed for the establishment of porcelain factories, the social aspirations of the patrons who commissioned these works, and the visual language through which they communicated their status.