Cup and saucer 1777

This cup and saucer were produced by Jean Etienne Chabry, a French porcelain painter, during the late 18th century. It’s interesting to consider these objects as evidence of the visual culture enjoyed by wealthy elites at the time. The cup depicts a scene of domesticity, with a woman and child in a pastoral landscape. The saucer, on the other hand, shows a classical ruin. The style of the painting is reminiscent of the Rococo, which was popular among the aristocracy and the church. These images reflect the social values of the time, with the emphasis on the family and on leisure. The dark blue background and gilded patterns represent the high status of the object and the person who would have used it. We might examine similar objects and the documentary evidence of French factories and workshops in order to understand more about this. Art is always created within a specific social and institutional context, and by exploring these contexts we can gain a deeper understanding of the artwork's significance.