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Plaque depicting Bernard Palissy

1846
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 554
This plaque depicts the celebrated French Renaissance potter Bernard Palissy (1509–1590) sacrificing his household furniture to provide fuel for his kiln, an episode described in his own writings. In this composition, the event is illustrated with the romanticism and sense of drama for which the mid-nineteenth century is known. The plaque is distinguished by the elaborate gilt-bronze, enamel, and bicuit-porcelain frame that is a compendium of motifs and styles from the French Renaissance. Together, they embody the interest in historicism that existed throughout much of the nineteenth century.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Plaque depicting Bernard Palissy
  • Manufactory: Sèvres Manufactory (French, 1740–present)
  • Designer: After a design by Nicolas-Marie Moriot (French, Versailles 1788–1852)
  • Artist: After a painting by Charles Alexandre Debacq (French, Paris 1804–1850 Paris)
  • Enameler: Enamel decoration by Jacob Meyer-Heine (French, 1805–1879)
  • Designer: After designs by Alexandre Laemlein (French, Hohenfeld 1813–1871 Pontlevoy)
  • Modeler: Biscuit figures modeled by Jean-Baptiste-Jules Klagmann (French, Paris 1810–1867 Paris)
  • Maker: Frame by Armand Feuchère (French, active Sèvres, 1842–51)
  • Date: 1846
  • Culture: French, Sèvres
  • Medium: Hard-paste porcelain decorated in polychrome enamels; gilt-bronze, polychrome enamel, biscuit-porcelain frame
  • Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 19 1/2 x 17 3/4 x 2 5/8 in. (49.5 x 45.1 x 6.7 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Porcelain
  • Credit Line: Purchase, The Isaacson-Draper Foundation Gift, 2007
  • Object Number: 2007.221
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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