The Impetuous Lover

Taxa (Rafael, Keramos 203/204, 2009, No. 21): *"1. dito, consisting of 4 figures: a shepherdess sitting on the grass, approached by a finely dressed young man who wishes to court her, but she refuses. On the young man is Cupid, holding him by the hair and beating him on the head with his bow. Beside them stands a Harlequin, laughing at the young man. 12 Thaler."

• This group is among the most dynamic and movement-filled compositions in Kaendler’s oeuvre. The humorous scene, full of wit and charm—with the frustrated lovers, the laughing Harlequin, and the beating (!) Cupid—was likely inspired by a Commedia dell’arte performance given by the Comici Italiani at the Dresden Opera.

The troupe, active at the court of Augustus III since 1739, enjoyed great success and had a lasting influence on Kaendler’s work (Menzhausen, "In Porzellan verzaubert", p. 56). His Harlequins and Commedia dell’arte figures, which he began creating in 1738, reflect this influence.

Bustelli later used this group (without Harlequin) as a model for his "Stormy Gallant" at Nymphenburg in 1756 (Bustelli Exhibition Catalog, 2004, No. 101, Figs. 315–317).

Comparable Pieces:

• Pauls-Eisenbeiss Collection (Menzhausen, pp. 150 & 64)
• Wurm Collection (Exhibition Catalog 2010, No. 351, with impressed number "45" = Düsseldorf Exhibition Catalog 1997, No. 203)
• Siegfried Salz Collection (No. 87, Plate XII, impressed number 2x "45")
• Gardiner Museum: 2 groups (Objekt-Nr. G83.1.922, G83.1.911; Chilton Nr. 95, 96 u. S. 144 u. 148)