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The Chicken’s Wedding
2012.02.07
Lisbon, c. 1665
Polychrome earthenware
148 x 242 cm
Provenance: The Santo António da Cadriceira estate, Turcifal, Torres Vedras
MNAz invº 400
Set against an urban landscape and surrounded by festivities, a chicken is being transported in a coach driven by a monkey while a triumphal coach full of monkeys playing musical instruments moves in the opposite direction. Two elephants in the foreground add a further touch of the exotic to this unlikely scene.
The panel was part of a set that included at least one other scene of singerie.
The palace of the Marquises of Fronteira, Lisbon, has similar tile scenes in the gardens, demonstrating that they were produced for palaces and commissioned by members of the nobility.
These images are from the time of Portugal’s successful War of Restoration against Spain (1640-1668). This suggests that the scenes may be satires directed at the former political authorities or at the Portuguese who opposed the new ruling Bragança dynasty.
Portuguese painters probably used Flemish satirical engravings to meet such commissions, adapting them to specific situations. The coach carrying the chicken also appears in another contemporary panel from the Chavões estate in Cartaxo, now part of the Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts at the Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva Foundation, demonstrating that both images used the same engraving.
Polychrome earthenware
148 x 242 cm
Provenance: The Santo António da Cadriceira estate, Turcifal, Torres Vedras
MNAz invº 400
Set against an urban landscape and surrounded by festivities, a chicken is being transported in a coach driven by a monkey while a triumphal coach full of monkeys playing musical instruments moves in the opposite direction. Two elephants in the foreground add a further touch of the exotic to this unlikely scene.
The panel was part of a set that included at least one other scene of singerie.
The palace of the Marquises of Fronteira, Lisbon, has similar tile scenes in the gardens, demonstrating that they were produced for palaces and commissioned by members of the nobility.
These images are from the time of Portugal’s successful War of Restoration against Spain (1640-1668). This suggests that the scenes may be satires directed at the former political authorities or at the Portuguese who opposed the new ruling Bragança dynasty.
Portuguese painters probably used Flemish satirical engravings to meet such commissions, adapting them to specific situations. The coach carrying the chicken also appears in another contemporary panel from the Chavões estate in Cartaxo, now part of the Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts at the Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva Foundation, demonstrating that both images used the same engraving.
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I like their sense of humor...but also the warm colours within the tiles....I think we seem to have the same theme today :-)
KatysPassionata · 2012-02-05: 13:54
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Wow Great find Wonderful, colourful artwork Congrats
helys · 2012-02-05: 14:26
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well done :)
flipado · 2012-02-05: 14:36
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Nice post !!
finbarr · 2012-02-05: 15:49
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Géniale histoire !!!
josy63 · 2012-02-05: 15:52
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Interesting set and information!
darfoster · 2012-02-05: 16:17
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