Ontwerp voor een kannetje c. 1760 - 1899

This is a design for a small jug, sketched by the Italian artist Luigi Valadier in the 18th century. As a designer of precious metalwork, Valadier straddled the line between artist and artisan. The jug's design, which includes classical motifs such as scrolling foliage and symmetrical arrangements, tells us about the cultural aspirations of its intended owner. Wealthy Europeans admired the art of ancient Greece and Rome, and they sought to emulate the virtues they associated with classical civilization. Valadier's drawing, now in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, can be interpreted as a sign of the changing status of the artist. While he needed patrons from the church or aristocracy to survive financially, artists increasingly saw themselves as learned professionals whose knowledge and skills set them apart. We can use sources like artists’ letters, bills, and contracts to get a better sense of this complex social and institutional history.