Cavalier and Sleeping Shepherdess 1778 - 1788

This porcelain sculpture, “Cavalier and Sleeping Shepherdess,” was produced by the Royal Porcelain Manufactory, likely in the late 18th century. It captures a popular Rococo theme that romanticizes pastoral life. Here, we see a privileged class playing at being shepherds and shepherdesses. The woman reclines, seemingly exhausted, while the man, in his finely tailored coat, looks on. The presence of sheep adds to this idealized scene of rural simplicity, yet the figures' refined attire and delicate features betray their aristocratic status. The sculpture invites us to consider the complex ways in which gender and class shaped artistic expression and social fantasies during this period. What does it mean to yearn for a simpler life when you are already at the top of the social hierarchy? What are the power dynamics at play between the watchful cavalier and the sleeping shepherdess? This sculpture is not just a pretty object; it's a cultural artifact that reflects the longings, contradictions, and inequalities of its time.