A BERLIN KPM PAINTED PORCELAIN PLAQUE OF A ROMAN VESTAL VIRGIN, IMPRESSED INITIALS, MARKS AND NUMBERS, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY, of oval shape and depicting a seated young virgin maiden wearing voluminous white robes and a sheer scarf above her pensive expression, while holding a lit Roman oil lamp in her lap, reversing to an impressed scepter above, "KPM / H," over an incised horizontal line crossed by three vertical incisions mark, incised, "5a," mounted on a buff velvet mat within a giltwood frame. Height: 7 1/2" Width: 5 3/4" NOTE: This painted plaque is after an oil painting by Angelika Kaufman (1741-1807), "Portrat einer Dame als Vestalin." The Vestal Virgins were priestesses of ancient Rome who had pledged to stay chaste, while maintaining the sacred fire for the Roman goddess Vesta - guardian goddess of hearth and home. In the late 18th century, it was not uncommon for girls of noble birth to be painted as one of these Vestal Virgins, representing what was seen then as a noble image of women.

Good condition, normal surface buildup. Reverse has glue residue spots.

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