Figure of Britannia

Cleveland Museum of Art

Figure of Britannia

Longton Hall Porcelain FactoryLinkedCulture matchlcp-77ca605e9b4a

Date
c. 1756
Medium
soft-paste porcelain
Culture
England, Staffordshire
Department
Decorative Art and Design
Institution
Cleveland Museum of Art
Object ID
97996

From the Cleveland Museum of Art record

In this depiction of Britannia, the figure is surrounded by symbols of England’s power and military might. On one side, she and a lion, another symbol of Britain, support a shield adorned with the Union flag. Below it lay motifs associated with war such as armor, a trumpet, and a flag. On her left, Britannia presents a medallion to the viewer as she rests her feet on a globe, a symbol of the nation’s territorial aspirations. The portrait may depict the reigning king, George II (1683–1760), or Prince Frederick Louis (1707–1751), his recently deceased heir. The creation of this triumphant personification of the nation was likely spurred on by Great Britain’s conflict with France in the Seven Years’ War (1756–63).

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Provenance & credit

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Credit line
Bequest of Mary Warden Harkness
Provenance
?-1916: Mary Warden Harkness [1864-1916], New York, NY, bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art | 1917-: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Part of LinkedCulture topics

  • Representative object from the topic 18th Century European Porcelain Figures
    18th Century European Porcelain Figures

    These objects are decorative figural ceramics produced across Europe (Germany, England, France) during the 18th century, predominantly featuring musicians and social scenes rendered in porcelain and faience.

    76 objects from 4 institutions

  • Representative object from the topic 18th Century Porcelain Figurines
    18th Century Porcelain Figurines

    These objects are decorative ceramic figures and figure groups made from soft-paste or hard-paste porcelain during the 18th century, produced by major European porcelain factories including Meissen, Sèvres, Derby, Chelse

    413 objects from 4 institutions

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