Large Picture Plate the Triumph of Venus in the style of F. Boucher for Royal Vienna, 1890

Large, lavishly decorated porcelain plate: the centre of the plate is completely filled by a finely painted polychrome image, framed by a broad band of gold-painted palmettes: according to Greek mythology, Venus was born, when her mother Gaia, goddess of the earth, incited her son Chronos to cut off the genitals of his father Uranus, god of the sky, because of his violence, and throw them into the sea. Venus was then created from the foam of the sea. The naked goddess of love, cradled on cloths, leans against a large rocaille on a restless sea against a rocky coastal background. A canopy supported by winds and cupids is suspended above her, accompanied by naiads and tritons, some of whom swim in front of her on dolphins. A neride hands the goddess pearls, while doves, also her attributes, sit at her feet. The plate rim is divided into eight reserves on a light green background, alternating in two different sizes: the four larger segments are richly filled with symmetrical, coloured feather leaf volutes and tendril decoration with the heads of mythical creatures and gold ornaments around central vases, against a dark red background, the four smaller reserves have semicircular pink surfaces against a light yellow background and are decorated with an abundance of gold decoration, some of which is painted in an impasto style, with the pink panels featuring different animal landscape motifs. On the back of the plate, the inscription ‘Venus’ in black. The oil painting ‘The Triumph of Venus’ (circa 1740) by François Boucher (1703-1770) served as a model and was transmitted in mirrored form. François Boucher is considered one of the leading representatives of French Rococo. He initially studied under the painter François Lemoyne and then also trained in copperplate engraving. After a stay in Rome from 1727 to 1731, he returned to France and in 1734 became a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpting in Paris. This marked the beginning of an outstanding career – he exhibited at the Paris Salon, accepted royal commissions and was in high demand among wealthy and aristocratic clients throughout Europe. For example, he was a regular artist for King Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour. The painting is now in the Swedish National Museum in Stockholm. Manufactory: Vienna / Austria Dating: circa 1890 Material: porcelain, painted, glossy finish, gold painting Technique: handmade and hand-painted porcelain Diameter 35,8 cm / 14.09 in Height 4,0 cm / 1.57 in Marks: Apogryphic Viennese Beehive Mark in blue Inscription in black 'Venus' Old sticker with slightly incorrect labelling Condition: Excellent overall condition