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Johann Joachim Kändler was a German sculptor and porcelain artist best known for his role in transforming European porcelain, particularly through his work at the Meissen porcelain factory. His sculptures and figurines, characterized by their natural motifs and intricate details, significantly impacted the porcelain industry.
Kändler's early works often depicted elements from nature, with his bird sculptures—such as those of jays and woodpeckers—being particularly notable. As his career evolved, he delved into smaller decorative figures, such as those from the "Swan Service," a collection of detailed and delicate porcelain pieces. Kändler also drew inspiration from the commedia dell'arte, a popular form of theater, creating vibrant figurines that captured the spirit of this genre. His "Monkey Band" from 1753 is an enduring piece still celebrated today.
Throughout his career, Kändler produced over a thousand different items, many of which are now considered timeless masterpieces in European porcelain art. You can find his works in museums and galleries, such as the British Museum, Seattle Art Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Some pieces are even available for auction or sale, often fetching high prices due to their rarity and artistic significance.
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Augustin Pajou was a French sculptor, born in Paris. At eighteen he won the Prix de Rome, and at thirty exhibited his Pluton tenant Cerbère enchaîné (now in the Louvre).
Antonio Joli was an Italian painter of vedute and capricci.
Francesco Lazzaro Guardi was an Italian painter, nobleman, and a member of the Venetian School. He is considered to be among the last practitioners, along with his brothers, of the classic Venetian school of painting.
In the early part of his career he collaborated with his older brother Gian Antonio in the production of religious paintings. After Gian Antonio's death in 1760, Francesco concentrated on vedute. The earliest of these show the influence of Canaletto, but he gradually adopted a looser style characterized by spirited brush-strokes and freely imagined architecture.
