Pair of frieze ornaments 1765 - 1790

Curator: We are looking at a pair of bronze frieze ornaments, dating from 1765 to 1790, by Etienne Martincourt. They’re currently held here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My initial impression is one of ornate, almost aggressive, exuberance. The gilded bronze seems to vibrate with energy. Curator: Yes, the Baroque and Rococo styles favoured such dynamism. Ornaments like these often adorned aristocratic residences, functioning as markers of wealth and power. We should consider how the aristocracy displayed these sort of artworks in contrast to how average folks lived. Editor: Formally speaking, observe the curvilinear lines, the asymmetries, and the density of the foliage. The artist really exploited the malleable nature of the bronze. It's a masterclass in sprezzatura, that artful negligence meant to impress. Curator: These were tumultuous times marked by immense wealth inequality and revolutionary upheaval brewing beneath the surface. The conspicuous consumption evidenced by objects like these friezes directly fuelled revolutionary sentiments. Can you think about what kinds of person lived in houses decorated with items like these? Editor: I concede to the historical relevance and meaning embedded in the foliage and decorative details, which serve more than an aesthetic purpose. Curator: Beyond aesthetics, these ornaments served as ideological billboards—statements about social status during a period when those hierarchies were increasingly challenged. To ignore that aspect feels like missing a critical layer of understanding. Editor: Okay, but one could also argue that the craftsmanship elevates these above mere propaganda. I still think there is significance to appreciating Martincourt's technical ability, to admire the work as an example of pushing bronze’s limits. Curator: It’s important we consider power structures. And art during revolutionary eras are deeply entangled with power. Editor: Well, I came to appreciate its complex beauty a little more and its historical ties. Thanks for pointing out important details.