Artwork
Suite of Vases: Plate 9
Suite of Vases: Plate 9 is a print by the Baroque artist Jacques François Saly. It dates from 1746 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
This painting shows a set of vases with unique designs.
The vases have basic antique forms, but with added creatures. This was a common practice during the mid-18th century, where artists could let their imagination run wild.
Check out the technique of chiaroscuro to learn more about how artists like Jacques François Saly used light and dark to create depth in their work.
Overview
Plate 9 from Suite of Vases is an etching by Jacques François Saly, part of a 30-print series published during his time at the French Academy in Rome (1740-1746). The work showcases Saly's interpretation of ornamental vase design, a popular artistic pursuit of the mid-18th century.
Subject & Meaning
The subject features vases with foundational antique forms, yet distinguished by the incorporation of fantastical creatures as ornaments, reflecting the era's artistic liberty and Saly's sculptural background influencing his etchings.
Technique & Style
Saly utilized etching to create the piece, with notable employment of chiaroscuro, a technique leveraging strong contrasts of light and dark to achieve depth and visual interest in the depicted vases and their embellishments.
History & Provenance
Published between 1740 and 1746, this etching is from Saly's set of 30, created while he was a student at the French Academy in Rome, indicating his early exploration of combining classical forms with imaginative ornamentation.
Context
Reflecting mid-18th-century artistic trends, the work exemplifies how designers and artists of the time were encouraged to innovate upon classical themes through the imaginative use of fantastical elements in decorative arts.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques François Joseph Saly, also known as Jacques Saly (20 June 1717 – 4 May 1776), French-born sculptor who worked in France, Italy and Malta.
