Viennese Vases, c.1880-1900, decorated with scenes after Sir Joshua Reynolds, copied from English 18th century mezzotint engravings.


A single Viennese porcelain twin handled vase and cover, c.1880-1900,with images after Reynolds on both sides
Reddere Personae scit convenientia cuique
[Garrick between Tragedy and Comedy]
Mezzotint by Edward Fisher after Sir Joshua Reynnolds
Published 1762
A pair of Viennese porcelain twin handled vases and covers, c.1880-1900, each with an image after Reynolds
The Hon.ble Mrs. Beresford. Mrs.Gardiner. The Right Hon:ble Anne Viscountess Townshend.
[The Montgomery Sisters]
Mezzotint by Thomas Watson after Sir Joshua Reynolds
Published 1st January 1776
A single Viennese porcelain twin handled vase and cover, c.1880-1900,with images after Reynolds on both sides


A pair of Viennese porcelain twin handled vases and covers, c.1880-1900, each vase of elongated tapering form with cerise ground, richly gilded with stylised flowers, cream and gilt cartouches and decorated to the body, each with a scene after Sir Joshua Reynolds, reserved within a gilt and turquoise 'jewelled' border, underglaze blue "beehive" mark and titles of images to base, 41.5cm.

The colours are totally different from Reynolds's original oils as the images were copied from 18th century black and white mezzotint engravings and the artist who decorated the vases has made up his own colours. The left image is taken from Reddere Personae scit convenientia cuique [known as Garrick between Tragedy and Comedy] engraved by Edward Fisher and published in 1762 and the right image is taken from The Hon.ble Mrs. Beresford. Mrs.Gardiner. The Right Hon:ble Anne Viscountess Townshend, engraved by Thomas Watson and published in 1776 and republished in 1784 with the title "Three Graces Decorating Hymen". There was a large export trade in English prints in the 18th century.



A single similar smaller Viennese porcelain twin handled vase and cover on a carved wooden stand, c.1880-1900, presumably from the same manufactory, the two sides of this vase both decorated with the same scenes after Sir Joshua Reynolds.

A large Viennese vase on a matching stand, with the same blue beehive mark, also painted after Reynolds, from his portrait of Lady Smith and her children, with gilt decoration on a light blue ground, was sold at Christie's, new York, as lot 194 on the 9th June 2014 for USD 13,750 including premium. This was also taken from a print, possibly the stipple engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi published in 1789.