Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria (1756–1825, r. 1806–25)
ca. 1815
Medium
Glass, biscuit porcelain; gilt bronze
Dimensions
Overall: 3 1/8 × 2 1/8 in. (7.9 × 5.4 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Munsey Fund, 1927
Accession Number
27.185.380
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite miniature portrait bust depicts Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria1756–1825), the elector who became Bavaria's first king in 1806 amid the Napoleonic upheavals. Created around 1815 by the French artist Désprez in, it captures the monarch in profile, a classical pose evoking ancient Roman coins and cameos that symbolized authority and legacy. Crafted from delicate biscuit porcelain—a matte, unglazed material prized for its soft, ivory-like finish—combined with glass elements and ornate gilt bronze mounting, the piece measures just 3⅛ × 2⅛ inches, suggesting it was a luxurious desk o...