porcelain, the body with wide gilt edging and dark red trim, gilt moulded borders with ovals and beading, gilt leaf festoons in the white centre, the inside rim with bright gilt painted leaves and tendrils on a matt gilt band, the centre with dark brown ground and the polychromed scene, a Cupid with quiver standing in a bucket carriage with its wheels in the water, holding light purple bands in the right hand and reining in 2 serpents, in the left hand a palm branch, after Raphael, Ø 24,2 cm, Vienna, Imperial Manufactory, underglaze blue Austrian shield, year no. 1798, turner no. 32 Mathias Ameseder from 1783, gilt painter no. 96 Anton Kothgasser, foremost design painter at the Vienna Manufactory 1784–1816 (Ru)

The subject is based on a gouache on card, after a design by Raphael, (1483–1520), from the bathroom of Cardinal Bibbiena, (1513–1520), in the Vatican in Rome. The gouache was made by Michelangelo Maestri, (1750–1812 Rom), whose highly decorative gouaches include scenes form the recently rediscovered rooms in ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum, or - as in this case - are based on designs by Raphael and his student Giulio Romano, (ca. 1790–1800). Raffaello Santi, (Urbino 6.4.1483–6.4.1520 Rome), Italy; painter and architect, called to Rome by Pope Julius II., made head of construction of St peter in 1515, as well as curator of ancient monuments. Lit.: W. Mrazek, W. Neuwirth, Wiener Porzellan 1718–1864, MAK Vienna 1970, p 171, cat. no. 649, ill. plate 90;