Copper plate painted in enamel. Limoges. France. 16th century. Possibly from Jea...

Copper plate painted in enamel. Limoges. France. 16th century. Possibly from Jean Court’s workshop (Active, 1553 - 85) or Pierre Reymond’s (1513-1584).
Scenes of the life of Psyche were very popular among the artists of Limoges at this time, especially for decorating plates.
The scene in the centre takes place before a building and has a mountainous landscape in the background. The edge is decorated with a series of alternating winged dragons and fantastical characters with human faces painted with enamel on a background of gilded garlands and foliage motifs. The centre of the back is formed by four fantastical characters linking arms, and between them is a pair of birds with the faces of a man and a woman. The edge is decorated with gilded wreaths of vegetation elements. There are flaws and some restoration work.
Very similar plates made by Jean Court are, for example, the plate depicting the wedding banquet of Cupid and Psyche which came from an important collection of Limoges enamel belonging to William Beckford (1760 - 1844), or also the one dedicated to Biblical stories of Joseph dated in 1565. Both can now be found in the Victoria & Albert Museum collection in London.
A Pierre Reymond plate depicting the story of Psyche is kept at the Louvre and was bequeathed by Baroness Salomon de Rothschild. Also by Reymond is a series of six plates from the Basilewski collection, kept at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.
Provenance: A gift from the Duchess of Villahermosa to the current owner.
Diameter: 20 cm.
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