Dish with Europeans Playing Musical Instruments
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi period (1661–1722)
Medium
Porcelain painted in underglaze blue
Dimensions
5.5 × 34.1 cm (2 3/16 × 13 7/16 in.); Diam.: 34.1 cm (13 7/16 in.)
Classification
dish (vessel)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
42879
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The design of musicians in the center of this dish is based on a print of a French “costume party” designed by French engravers. One possible source is the engraving titled Symphonie du Tympanum, du Luth et de la Flut d’Allemagne [Symphony of Dulcimer, Lute, and German Flute] by Nicholas Bonnart (1646-1718) and Robert Bonnart (1652-after 1686). Chinese porcelains decorated with such images reflected prevailing European fashion for masquerades and were generally commissioned for export to France,...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...