Italian, Naples, Capodimonte, circa 1750-55

modelled by Giuseppe Gricci, from the series 'Le voci di Napoli', the old woman standing with bare feet on a rocky mound, wearing a pale yellow mob cap, her torn white clothes edged in blue and puce, holding two prints in her left hand, her right arm raised with a print inscribed MISERA/VIRTV/NON/CONOSCIV./TA, indistinct impressed fleur-de-lys mark

The G. Pavoncello collection, Rome;
the Luigi Ongaro collection.

G. Morazzoni, Le Porcellane Italiane, Milan, 1935, pl. LXXI;
G. Morazzoni and S. Levy, Le Porcellane Italiane, Milan, 1960, vol. II, pl. 326;
F. Stazzi, Capodimonte, Milan,
A. Mottola Molfino, L'arte della Porcellana in Italia, il Piemonte Roma e Napoli, Busto Arizio, 1977, cited in caption for plates XL/XLI;
N. Spinosa, Le porcellane di Capodimonte, Naples, 1983, p. 130

A Capodimonte figure of The Print Seller, La venditrice di stampe, circa 1750-55 In generally good condition. There is a short firing crack under her raised right arm which has been filled. A minute chip to the lower edge of her bodice. There are two hairline or glaze cracks to the figure, one located between her legs and the top edge of the rockwork base, and the second to the left side of her dress.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

For a full discussion of the series of figures Le voci di Napoli (Cries of Naples), see Càrola-Perrotti (op. cit.). Gricci's series of pedlars and street sellers was inspired by the engravings of Annibale Carracci, Le Arti per via, published in 1646, rather than the 'Cris de Paris' by Christopher Huet which were the source of inspiration at the Meissen factory at around the same period.

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Càrola-Perrotti, Le Porcellane dei Borbone di Napoli, Capodimonte e Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea, 1743-1806, Naples 1986, chapter II.4