Mezzetino c. 1754

Curator: Let's take a look at "Mezzetino," a porcelain sculpture crafted around 1754 by Simon Feilner, currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: It's certainly striking! There's a flamboyant energy to this small character; it's quite theatric, a real sense of captured motion, even in the static medium of porcelain. Curator: Indeed. Feilner, working within the Rococo style, captured the essence of the commedia dell'arte figure. Mezzetino was a popular character known for his wit and agility, and Feilner presents that spirit wonderfully. Think about how these porcelain figures circulated, becoming signs of cultivated taste. Editor: Right, that's what I find interesting. Porcelain itself was such a coveted material, requiring precise skill and technique. To see it shaped into something theatrical, a figure from popular culture, it speaks volumes about the blurring lines between high art and…almost manufactured whimsy. What does that say about artistic intention or Feilner’s artistic position, being both sculptor and manufacturer? Curator: The commodification of art is inherent. This kind of artistry made visual culture pervasive. Feilner leveraged popular characters like Mezzetino. Reproducing these ensured a wider reach and secured the workshop's, and Feilner's place in society and royal courts. Editor: Yes, the seriality of this is crucial, pointing to the system behind the creation, to its place and time. It invites questions of labour: how was this piece assembled? How was the clay refined and what type of conditions for painting such delicate decoration? Curator: It's remarkable to see porcelain used in such a way; delicate material portraying something vibrant. We are in the Decorative Art section. I’m considering Mezzetino’s initial audience and the impact that Feilner and similar manufacturers had on artistic appreciation in those times. Editor: I leave captivated and eager to keep an eye out for porcelain sculptures during my next visit. Curator: A captivating figure from a rich time. Thank you for the visit.