Groupe de Capodimonte/ Buen Retiro représentant deux pèlerins, circa 1757-63

A group of two pilgrims, Capodimonte/Buen Retiro, circa 1757-63

Modelled by Giuseppe Gricci, she resting his head on his shoulder and holding his left hand, he wearing a green-lined beige hat, beige cape with shells, brown jacket with gilt frogging and white breeches, she wearing a black cape with gilt shells and green dress with gilt borders, 21.5cm high (restored)
Footnotes:
Provenance
Italian Private Collection

Literature
A. Caròla-Perrotti, Le porcellane dei Borbone di Napoli. Capodimonte e Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea 1743-1806, 1986, pl. XXXIII [II, 2]

This group displays a theme highly fashionable in the 18th century and in the Capodimonte manufactory of 'The Pilgrims of Love' sourced after the Commedia dell'Arte 'Le Trois Cousins' by Dancourt', with the scene of the pilgrimage of a group of young lovers to the island of Citera. It is part of a series of larger group which Perrotti (op.cit. p. 164ff) identifies as as series of 'galanti', but immediately classifies this as an incomplete group with sub-groups based on surviving terra cotta figures and the different sizes of the various groups. She assumes there must have been various groups of objects that would have been conceived to be displayed together.

There is spray residue across the top halves of the figures, and evidence of overpainting to both his arms (which are likely restuck). His hat and edge of cape on his right side are restored. Both his hands and her left hand are restored.
Otherwise generally in good condition.