In the artistic style known as “fête galante,” young couples in love are shown relaxing in the outdoors. The characters are often imaginary peasants, such as shepherds and shepherdesses, but they resemble nobles in the elegance of their bodies, gestures, clothing, and hairstyles. Fine porcelain sculpture imitated characters and situations from the “fêtes galantes,” as well as characters from the popular theater of the time. When porcelain is not painted, it resembles stone sculptures from antiquity, which makes it appear even more “noble,” even if its subject is contemporary.
