18th Century Rococo Chinoiserie Canvas, Camaïeu Bleu, Circle of Francois Boucher

1760s

Late 18th or early 19th century oil on canvas Rococo idylic pastoral scene. Though not signed the painting is of very fine quality and is presented in a plain gilt wood frame. This...

Late 18th Century pastel portrait on paper of a bearded gentleman. Presented under glass in a fine period gilded carved wood frame. A cha...

18th century French Rococo Painting Circle of François Boucher This idyllic pastoral oil painting shows Boucher’s impact on this f...

Dutch Delft Polychrome Chinoiserie Wall Plaque Circa 1730-1740 This vibrant wall plaque is a superb example of Dutch Delftware, capturing the charm and technical skill of the Delft potters during the high period of the Rococo. Description and Design This beautifully modeled and painted plaque features an ornate, raised border composed of alternating cartouches, each filled with either floral sprays or Chinese auspicious objects. The central scene is a charming and whimsical Chinoiserie fantasy. It depicts a gardener standing in a landscape next to a large vase of flowers, from which a large, colorful parrot perches on a branch. The composition is alive with details, including flying insects and the gardener's watering cans at his feet. The scene is painted in a distinctive and sophisticated palette of puce, yellow, and green, with blue accents. The plaque is surmounted by a molded blue shell, pierced with a hole for hanging. Historical Background & Context 🧐 Dutch Delft and the China Trade: Delftware is the famous tin-glazed earthenware produced in the city of Delft from the 17th century onwards. Dutch potters, inspired by the beautiful and wildly expensive blue and white porcelain imported from China by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), developed this tin-glaze technique to create their own affordable versions. The Move to Color: While Delft is famous for its blue and white wares, by the early 18th century (circa 1730-40), the potters began to introduce polychrome palettes to compete with the colorful Chinese famille verte and famille rose porcelain, as well as with rival European factories. This plaque, with its distinctive color scheme, is a perfect example of this fashionable shift. Chinoiserie: This plaque is a wonderful expression of Chinoiserie, the imaginative and often fanciful European interpretation of Chinese life and art. The scene is not an accurate depiction of China but rather a charming pastiche of exotic elements—the gardener, the auspicious symbols—combined with familiar European motifs like the parrot, all designed to delight the eye and bring a touch of the exotic to a wealthy Dutch interior. Condition, Provenance & Details Condition: Excellent, original condition with no restoration. There is some minor, typical flaking to the glaze on the rim ("fritting"), which is characteristic of soft tin-glazed earthenware of this age. Provenance: Formerly in the B.F. Edwards Collection...