madame de pompadour's dog

Acquired by Henry Walters, 1895 (CC) thewalters.org

The artist: Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, circa 1755.  If that name sounds familiar to Museum friends with a taste for French history, that's because you know Jeanne best as the Marquise de Pompadour (1721-1764).  This engraving of her dog - possibly Bébé - was the latest stage in an art collective.  As explained here at the Walters' source page, the pup's portrait was first engraved upon a gem by Jacques Guay.  Then another artist, possibly Francois Boucher, drew the gem, and last but not least Madame de Pompadour created an engraving based on the drawing.  This isn't meant to take away from the quality of the engraving at all.  The delicacy and sprightliness of this creature still shine through its third stage of portrayal; Madame de Pompadour was a woman of several gifts, so this doesn't surprise me.

I found a transcript of an NPR review of the Walters' exhibition in which "Bebe" was included.  Would you like to read it?  Here you go. 

BONUS!  Are you interested in the royal world of Versailles in general?  Have I found the blog for you.  This is Versailles.

a snuffbox squirrel

the metropolitan museum of art - the jack and belle linsky collection, 1982

This porcelain treasure was designed and made at the Schrezheim factory in Schreizheim, Germany circa 1761-70.  The painter of this object, Johann Andreas Bechdolff, pops up reliably in searches for Schrezheim porcelain - here's a pug snuffbox he decorated.  He didn't only paint the tops of snuffboxes: at the Met page for this squirrel you can see the bottom and inside as well.  Why a critter on your powdered tobacco holder?  Think of it like a cell phone case: you personalize that with something you like, and carry it daily.  Same sort of thing.

the wind in your ears. and your hat.

thanks wikimedia commons (PD US)

If only Nicolas de Largilliere (French, 1756-1846) could have found an excuse to portray the spaniel's long black ears sticking straight out to either side.  Then this 1703 portrait of "La Belle Strasbourgeoise" (The Beautiful Woman of Strasbourg) would have made my entire week.  Here's typically Rococo-era relish for portraying fabrics and fashion, not least that fabulously trendy hat.  Coy head tilts?  Check.  Please do notice, too, how well her gathered sleeves play off against the dog's curly ears.  Another great example of dog as fashion accessory.

firecat

courtesy www.rijksmuseum.nl BK-16903-B

This cat half of a pair of gilded bronze firedogs is:
 - probably from 1770
 - probably by Philippe Caffieri the Younger
 - not the half that's a poodle
 - definitely beautiful
Firedogs help support the framework upon which the logs are piled in a fireplace.  What a clever, elegant move to make them in the shape of animals enjoying the heat and light.  That's typical for their time; 1770 would be during the ascendancy of Rococo, a playful, delicate and lyrical style.