Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Medium
Hard-paste biscuit porcelain
Dimensions
Diameter: 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
French, Sèvres
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Kent, 1964
Accession Number
64.186.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite biscuit porcelain medallion, titled *Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington*, captures profile of the British military hero in a delicate 3¼-inch (8.3 cm) diameter. Produced 1815 by the Sèvres Manuf with modeling by Alexandre Brachard, exemplifies French porcelain artistry at its peak. Sèvres, the royal near Paris, was celebrated for its technical innovation and luxury goods, supplying Europe's elite with finely crafted ceramics. The timing is particularly poignant: 1815 marked Wellington's decisive victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, ending the Napoleonic Wars. Crafted from h...
About the Artist
Sèvres Manufactory|Alexandre Brachard · 1740–present
The Sèvres Manufactory, one of Europe's premier porcelain producers, was established in 1740 as the Manufacture de Vincennes under the patronage of Queen Marie Leszczyńska, who sought to rival Meissen and Chantilly porcelains with French soft-paste innovations. Initially a private venture, it relocated to Sèvres in 1756 in a purpose-built facility designed by architect Laurent Lindet near Madame d...