Plaque with Bacchus, Fauns, and Silenus 1769 - 1780

The Wedgwood Manufactory created this plaque with Bacchus, Fauns, and Silenus, using Jasperware, a type of stoneware known for its matte, unglazed finish. The scene is drawn from classical antiquity, representing Bacchus, the god of wine, fertility, and theatre, surrounded by fauns and Silenus, all figures associated with revelry and the uninhibited enjoyment of life. Wedgwood's choice to depict classical subjects aligns with the 18th-century fascination with ancient Greece and Rome, a period that significantly shaped European art, architecture, and thought. Yet, it is impossible not to consider how these depictions of bodies, particularly the cherubic, often feminized forms of Bacchus and his entourage, reflect and shape the era's views on sensuality, innocence, and the body. What happens when we read these classical scenes through the lenses of gender and power? How might these supposedly innocent depictions participate in broader cultural narratives about desire, pleasure, and control? The plaque invites us to think about the complex interplay between historical representation, cultural values, and the enduring power of art to shape our understanding of ourselves.