The Sleeping Shepherdess 1770 - 1780

This is a porcelain sculpture of a pastoral scene, made by the Fulda Pottery and Porcelain Manufactory in Germany in the late 18th century. The delicate porcelain and the idealized subject matter reflect the tastes of the European elite during the Rococo period. At this time, wealthy patrons acquired delicate figurines like this to decorate their homes. The figures are dressed as shepherds and shepherdesses and embody an artificial vision of country life that was popular among the aristocracy. The Fulda Manufactory was one of many porcelain factories that sprung up in Germany during the 18th century, often under the patronage of local rulers. These factories produced luxury goods for the court and the upper classes, and they also served as symbols of local pride and economic development. Art historians draw on a wide range of sources, from factory records to social histories, to understand the complex relationship between art, commerce, and power in this period.