Pair of Italian comedy actors (Pulcinella and Elizabeth (?))
ca. 1770–80
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain
Dimensions
12 1/4 × 7 1/4 × 3 1/2 in. (31.1 × 18.4 × 8.9 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
Spanish, Madrid (Buen Retiro)
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
Accession Number
64.101.356
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delightful pair of soft-paste figures, crafted around 1770–80 at Spain's Real Fábrica de Buen Retiro in, captures the lively spirit of Italian *commedia dell'arte*. Modeled by Vicente Roco, they depict Pulcinella—a hunchbacked mischievous Neapolitan clown known for his hooked nose and buffoonery—alongside a female counterpart possibly named Elizabeth (perhaps evoking Colombina or a soubrette). Standing about 12 inches tall, the sculptures showcase the actors in dynamic poses, adorned with musical instruments that hint at their roles in musical performances or theatrical skits. The Buen R...