Plate c. 1810

This plate was made at the Sèvres Porcelain Factory, established in France in 1756. It presents a neoclassical image, embodying the 18th-century fascination with ancient Greece and Rome. The factory existed in a society marked by rigid class distinctions, royal patronage, and the stirrings of revolutionary thought. The plate's imagery and material speak to the complex intersection of art, power, and identity in pre-revolutionary France. The idealized male figure echoes classical sculptures, reflecting a desire to emulate the perceived harmony and order of ancient civilizations. Yet, this idealized form also masks the social realities of the time, marked by inequality and oppression. It invites us to reflect on the ways in which classical ideals were selectively appropriated to serve the interests of the elite. The plate is both an object of beauty and a carrier of cultural values. It is a reminder of the intricate relationships between art, identity, and history.