Artwork
Suite of Vases: Plate 2
Suite of Vases: Plate 2 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. The work is a print from the series titled Suite of Vases, specifically Plate 2, depicting a collection of elaborately decorated vases.
About this work
Overview
The work is a print from the series titled Suite of Vases, specifically Plate 2, depicting a collection of elaborately decorated vases. Executed in the mid‑18th century, the image combines classical vase silhouettes with imaginative ornamental figures that cover the surfaces, reflecting a period fascination with decorative objects whose forms were limited only by artistic invention.
Subject & Meaning
The vases present a hybrid of antiquarian shape and fantastical adornment. While the underlying profiles echo ancient Greek and Roman urns, the applied motifs consist of invented creatures and ornamental scrollwork, suggesting a playful departure from strict classicism toward a more whimsical, ornamental aesthetic.
Technique & Style
Created as an etching, the print employs fine line work to render both the structural outlines of the vessels and the intricate detailing of the decorative figures. The artist’s training as a sculptor informs the three‑dimensional modeling of the forms, while the linear treatment conveys a chiaroscuro effect through varied hatching and cross‑hatching.
History & Provenance
The print was produced by the French sculptor Pierre-Jean Mariette Saly, who studied at the French Academy in Rome between 1740 and 1746. During his Roman residency he issued a set of thirty etchings that explored vase designs, of which this plate is a part. The series circulated among collectors interested in ornamental design.
Context
In the mid‑18th century, European decorative arts saw a surge in the design of ornamental vases and urns, driven by a market for decorative objects for interior spaces. Artists like Saly responded by expanding the visual vocabulary of such objects, integrating imaginative motifs that appealed to patrons seeking novelty beyond traditional classical ornament.
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.
