Cappé Giuseppe Music and Poetry White and Gold Porcelain circa 1960. Created around 1960, the two figures represent a classical allegory of Music and Poetry. The allegory of Poetry is represented by a young man, may be Apollo or a classical poet, seated on a rocky base. Captured in a moment of inspiration: he is holding a pen in his hand, an open book on his lap. Beside him, a small winged cherub appears to be whispering in his ear or guiding his hand, symbolizing divine inspiration. At his feet, other books can be seen resting on the ground. The contrast between the purity of the white porcelain and the golden drapery of the robe creates an effect of extreme elegance and movement. The second figure completes the pair with a symmetrical and harmonious composition and is the allegory of Music. A female figure of ethereal grace, also seated on a rock formation, elegantly holds a lyre (or a small harp) finely decorated in gold. A cherub, in this case, is depicted playing a trumpet or a flute, emphasizing the work’s musical theme.
Both figures rest on circular bases adorned with a gilded Greek fret frieze—a direct reference to Greco-Roman aesthetics—and are crafted from “soft-paste” porcelain, typical of high-quality manufacturing, with pure gold finishes applied in a third firing.
The style of the Lombard artist Giuseppe Cappè (Cittiglio 1921 – Lomagna 2008) is recognizable for his extraordinary skill in modeling the expressiveness of faces and the fluidity of fabrics (wet drapery), which lend lightness to a rigid material such as porcelain. The figures, rendered with perfect and detailed anatomy, are in excellent condition.
The porcelain works of the Lombard artist Giuseppe Cappè, recognized as among the most prestigious in the Italian artistic tradition, draw inspiration from the great masters of Neapolitan Baroque, Neoclassical, and Renaissance art.