PORCELAIN ENSEMBLE "ARITHMETIC"
Meissen. 19th century. Model M.V. Acier

Porcelain; enriched in colours and gold. Three putti grouped on a rock base calculating; with writing utensils; book and scroll. A hard thinking putto grasps his head; the other one uses his fingers for calculating. Height 21cm.
Swords mark; 12; painter's no. 6. Condition C.

Literature:
Pietsch; Ulrich (ed.): Mei遝n f黵 die Zaren. Porzellan als Mittel s鋍hsisch-russischer
Politik im 18. Jahrhundert; Munich 2002; cat. no. 192.

The design for this ensemble is one of the models of the so-called 'Large Russian Order'.
The in total 40 small sculptures were commissioned to Kaendler in 1772; who delivered all
the drawing designs; for empress Catherine II. Michel Victor Acier was then called in as
modeller for the moulding. The figurines were intended to furnish a cabinet in a pavilion
in the garden of Oranienbaum Castle near St. Petersburg. 'Arithmetic' is one of eight
allegories that refer to Catherine's role as a patron of the arts and sciences.