A Cleric
last half 18th century
Medium
Opaque white, black, brown, pink, tan, green and waxlike colorless; copper wire. Lampworked.
Dimensions
H. 7.6 cm
Classification
Glass
Culture
probably French (Nevers)
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1572
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art,A Cleric* is a charming miniature figurine crafted by the Haly workshop the last half of the18th century. Likely originating from Nevers, France—a hub of innovative glassmaking—this 7.6 cm tall piece depicts a robed male figure, evoking the dignified presence of a religious cleric. Its petite scale invites visitors to marvel at the exquisite detail achievable in such a delicate medium. The artwork showcases masterful lampworking, a technique thin rods of colored glass—here, opaque white, black, brown, pink, tan, green, ...