Getty Museum

Figure of a Street Vendor

Date

about 1755–1760

Medium

Soft-paste porcelain

Culture

French

Department

Decorative Arts

Institution

Getty Museum

This figure probably once formed part of a series of figures of various street vendors. He holds out an apron displaying a fish, grapes, a slice of melon, and two cucumbers. After buying fish, fruits, or vegetables at market, these vendors walked through the streets of the towns, advertising their wares with shouts or songs. The modeler at the Mennecy porcelain manufactory may have copied this figure from one of many engraved series of "Cries of Paris" depicting such hawkers. There were so many hawkers, forming a potentially powerful group, that the king allowed them special privileges, including free entry to certain theatrical performances. This idealized view of a peasant with his sturdy clogs, short jacket, and apron appealed to wealthy patrons, who ordered large numbers of these figures. Designers created such small sculptures to be seen from all sides as table decorations.

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