The Reaper (Le Moissonneur)
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Height: 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
French, Vincennes
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of R. Thornton Wilson, in memory of Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1950
Accession Number
50.211.166
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the opulent world of 18th-century French decorative arts, *The Reaper (Le Moissonneur)* as a delightful example of Rococo porcelain sculpture. Created around 1753–54 at the prestigious Vincennes Manufactory—the cradle of French soft-paste porcelain—this 7¾-inch figurine depicts a youthful reaper, likely a boy, captured in mid-stride with a sickle in hand. The design draws from the masterful hand of François Boucher the era's preeminent Rococo painter known for his playful, sensual depictions of pastoral idylls, while the modeling is attributed to Pierre Blondeau, a skilled sculptor at the m...
About the Artist
François Boucher|Vincennes Manufactory|Pierre Blondeau · 1703–1770
François Boucher (1703–1770) stands as the quintessential master of French Rococo painting and the most celebrated decorative artist of the 18th century. Born in Paris to a lace designer, Boucher created a visual language that perfectly embodied the refined taste, sensuality, and elegance of Louis XV's court. His prolific output—encompassing paintings, tapestry designs, theatrical sets, and decora...