Cup and saucer 18th century

Editor: Here we have an 18th-century cup and saucer from Castelli, housed at the Met. I'm immediately struck by the contrast; it feels like a functional object elevated with miniature landscape paintings. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The landscape isn't just decoration. Look closely – what repeated elements do you see across both pieces? The figure on the cup, the well on the saucer—these aren’t just picturesque elements; they're archetypes, common laborers drawing from the wellspring of daily life. Editor: So you see them as symbolic? Representing more than just everyday life in the 18th century? Curator: Exactly. The well is an ancient symbol: life-giving, communal, sometimes even a sacred space. And the man collecting water? Consider how vital water was, literally and figuratively, throughout history. This isn't mere genre painting; it's about human survival, our connection to nature, painted onto the very objects we use to nourish ourselves. What emotions are stirred by considering this connection? Editor: It makes me think about how even the simplest actions, like drinking tea, were connected to broader social and environmental narratives. I'll never look at a teacup the same way again. Curator: And that is the power of the symbol, and how it has carried through time to today. Hopefully you will think twice before grabbing that grande latte!