Skip to main content

Vestal Virgin: C.3174-1928

An image of Figure

Terms of use

These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.

Download this image

Creative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.

Alternative views

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Vestal Virgin
Woman from Herculaneum

Maker(s)

Factory: Meissen Porcelain Factory
Modeller: Jüchtzer, Christian Gottfried (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Hard-paste porcelain, enamelled and gilt

Hard-paste porcelain, moulded, painted overglaze in yellow, pink, red, and brown, enamels, and gilt. The underside is unglazed and has a small circular ventilation hole below the figure. The base is circular with gilded fret pattern in relief on the sides, and gold bands on the top and bottom edges. The vestal stands with her feet slightly apart, holding a flaming urn in her right hand and holding her left up to her face below her shawl. She has brown hair and red lips, and wears a long, close-fitting, long-sleeved pink dress with a yellow border round the neckline, and a long white shawl or cloak which envelopes her head and left arm, and falls down to the ground at the back.

Notes

History note: Purchased by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher from Mr Greenwood in York on 10 September 1917 with C.3173-1928 for £25..

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 19.5 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Meissen ⪼ Saxony ⪼ Germany

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, Late-19th Century, Early#
Marcolini period (1774-1814)
Circa 1781 - Circa 1810

Note

This figure was perhaps modelled by Jüchster about 1781. The model was derived from one of three marble statues known as 'Vestal Virgins' from Herculaneum, which were illicitly exported to Vienna as a diplomatic gift to Prince Eugene of Savoy. After his death in 1736 they were acquired from his niece and heiress by Augustus III (ruled 1733-63).

School or Style

Neoclassical

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamels ( yellow, pink, red, brown) gold
Base Diameter 6.8 cm

Materials used in production

clear Glaze
Hard-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Moulding : Hard-paste porcelain, moulded, painted in yellow, pink, red, and brown enamels, and gilt
Glazing (coating)

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: crossed swords inside a triangle
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Incised
  • Type: Factory mark
  • Text: script E3
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Incised
  • Type: Number
  • Text: G 77
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Incised
  • Type: Number

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.3174-1928
Primary reference Number: 74449
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 25 February 2020 Last processed: Wednesday 13 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Vestal Virgin" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/74449 Accessed: 2024-11-02 20:22:07

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/74449 |title=Vestal Virgin |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-02 20:22:07|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-74449

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa3/C_3174_1928_281_29.jpg"
        alt="Vestal Virgin"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Vestal Virgin</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>
    

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...