BRITISH THEATRE PORTRAITS IN PORCELAIN: Henry Woodward and friends with Matthew Martin

An intriguing aspect of mid-18^th century porcelain figure production by English factories was a range of portrait figures depicting celebrity actors from the contemporary London stage. These fascinating artworks provide us with a unique insight into the growing culture of celebrity in 18^th century England, and the place of porcelain sculpture in the contemporary culture of collecting.

MATTHEW MARTIN is Lecturer in Art History and Curatorship at the University of Melbourne. He was formerly the Curator, International Decorative Arts & Antiquities at the NGV (2006-2019). His research interests include 18^th century European porcelain, and the role of Recusant elites as art collectors in 18^th century England. His most recent lecture at TJC was Mad Monks and Naughty Nuns (2012).

Tickets include a $25 tax deductible gift donation. All donations and profits raised at this event will go directly towards the acquisition of a Bow porcelain factory, figure of Kitty Clive, England, circa 1750 to mark the milestone of “The Friends @ 20” and their ongoing support of TJC.

Bow Porcelain Works (est. circa 1748-1776), London, Kitty Clive and Henry Woodward, London, England, (circa 1750), porcelain (soft-paste), glazed, (Kitty Clive) (1) 256 × 163 × 118 mm, (Henry Woodward) (2) 274 × 116 × 126 mm, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 3804A.1-2-D3, Felton Bequest, 1938

Image supplied.