A rare 19th century French porcelain plaque. Beautifully hand painted, depicts Cupid and Venus. Portraying Cupid (Eros) at the helm of a conch shell shaped boat. Cupid is busy piloting the boat rather than creating mischief in this scene with his tools of trade ( a quiver of arrows and bow) resting idly at his feet. He leads Venus, (Aphrodite), goddess of love. Portrayed as a female nude in repose, her blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. One arm dangles from the boat´s edge, listlessly stirring the serene blue waters below. Emphasizing the tranquil mood to this portrait. Her skin-tone creates a beautiful contrast against the purple, blue and green background hues.

A beautifully rendered painting, with exceptional detail and of outstanding Sevres quality. Signed Alice Potain, a porcelain painter who probably worked for the Sevres Porcelain Company in the late 19th Century.

The reverse is marked in French "L´Amour Pilote, Tableau de Coomans..." (und so on, unreadable). The portrait is after a work by Belgian artist Joseph Coomans (1816-1889). Titled "Love as Pilot", also known as "Cupid the Pilot" (1883) was featured and cataloged in the 1883 Salon, Exposition nationale des beaux-arts (1883 : Paris, France). Coomans was a frequent exhibitor at the Salon, and his brush was active until very close to the end of his life. The plaque housed in the original gilt gesso carved wood frame. The back has a removable wood panel to allow access to the dedication on the back of the porcelain.Literature:

Literature: "General Artist´s Lexicon " by Thieme/Becker (in German) and "Dictionary of painters, sculptors, decorators and etchers" by Benezit (in French), Paris, 1999.

Inscription: signed lower right "Alice Potain", on the back of wood cover two antique label : first one with French inscription and second one with name of frame producer.

Technique: oil on porcelain plaque, back has a removable wood panel. Luxuriousy original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: plaque w 12 1/4" x h 8 1/4" (31 x 21 cm), framed w 20 1/2" x h 16 1/2" (52 x 42 cm).

Condition: in overall very good to excellent condition.