Skip to main content

Three Classical Figures: C.3217-1928

An image of Group

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

Three Classical Figures

Maker(s)

Factory: Cozzi Porcelain Factory

Entities

Categories

Description

Glazed hard-paste porcelain

Hard-paste porcelain, press-moulded and glazed; the underside is glazed and has three rectangular holes cut into it, two of which are ventilation holes for the figures above them. The base is circular with straight sides decorated in relief with a rectangular meander border, with four-petalled flowers and rosettes in the spaces. The top is rocky and uneven. On one side there is a woman in classical costume standing beside a male nude wearing a fig leaf, who stands in front of a tree stump. Each figure has their outer hand extended to the side. A female caryatid stands with her back to them, raising her left hand.

Notes

History note: Puttick & Simpson, London, 8 October, 1920, part of lot 124; purchased with another piece in the lot for 3 guineas, i.e. about £1.11s. 6d. each, by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 17.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Dynasty, Late
Circa 1780 CE - 1800 CE

Note

The arrangement of the three figures so that the group can be viewed from both sides, suggests that it was intended to be used as a table ornament. It seems unlikely that it represents the Choice of Hercules as suggested by Rackham, because the nude male figure has no club or lion skin. All three figures were modelled are after classical marbles: the Zingara, the Capitoline Antinous, and a Caryatid from the Villa Albani (See Documentation).

School or Style

Neoclassical

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Base Diameter 11.6 cm

Materials used in production

clear Glaze
Hard-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Press-moulding : Hard-paste porcelain, press-moulded in parts, and glazed
Glazing

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: No. 3807/Group of Venus/Apollo and a/Vestal b. at/Putticks 8 October 1920
  • Location: On underside of base
  • Method of creation: Hand-written in faded black ink, now brown
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.3217-1928
Primary reference Number: 74514
Old object number: 3807
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 25 February 2020 Last processed: Friday 8 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) "Three Classical Figures" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/74514 Accessed: 2024-11-22 00:59:01

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/74514 |title=Three Classical Figures |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-22 00:59:01|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-74514

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/aa4/C_3217_1928_281_29.jpg"
        alt="Three Classical Figures"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Three Classical Figures</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...