The Chastisement of Cupid

Art Historical Context

In the late 18th century, the Doccia Porcelain Manuf in Florence, Italy—one of Europe's pioneering porcelain factories founded in 1735— exquisite small-scale sculptures like *The Chastisement of Cup* (1770–80). This tin-glazed hard-paste figurine, standing just 4¾ inches tall, captures a whimsical mythological moment: Cupid, the mischievous god of love, receiving a gentle scolding, likely from Venus, in a scene drawn from classical lore. Crafted during a period when Italian porcelain rivaled Meissen and Sèvres, it reflects the Rococo taste for playful, narrative vignettes adorning aristocratic homes. Doccia's mastery of hard-paste porcelain—a durable, translucent material fired at high temperatures—allowed for intricate modeling and vibrant polychrome enameling over a tin glaze, which provided a smooth, opaque surface ideal for detailed decoration. The tin glaze technique, rooted in maiolica traditions, enhanced the porcelain's whiteness and prevented lead-poisoning risks common in softer glazes. This piece exemplifies the factory's blend of technical innovation and artistic flair, making luxury ceramics accessible to collectors during the Enlightenment era. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection (acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1906), *The Chastisement of Cupid* invites visitors to ponder love's playful punishments amid Florence's golden age of porcelain artistry.

About the Artist

Doccia Porcelain Manufactory · 1737–1896

The Doccia Porcelain Manufactory, founded in 1737 by Marquis Carlo Ginori near Florence, holds the distinction of being Italy's first hard-paste porcelain manufacturer and one of the few European porcelain enterprises to survive from the eighteenth century to the present day without interruption. Unlike most contemporary ventures — which depended on the patronage and protection of ruling courts — ...