Hunter unleashing two hounds

A hunter unleashing two hounds. A bisque group, one of five from a decorative tableware set, a so-called surtout de table depicting hunting scenes. These are copies of the Sèvres bisques modelled by Pierre Blondeau in 1752 and modelled after the compositions of Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755); they were made by Samson Ceramics in Paris at the end of the 19th c. This group was a gift of the Kent county for Elżbieta Potocka in connection with their visit to Łańcut (Wystawa biskwitów ze zbiorów Muzeum-Zamku w Łańcucie, Muzeum Narodowego w Warszawie z Oddziałem w Wilanowie, Muzeum Narodowego w Krakowie, Muzeum Narodowego w Poznaniu oraz osób prywatnych, Łańcut, 1973, pp. 52-56; information on bisques from Łańcut by Irena Radomska). The above bisque is a side group in a set of realistic hunting scenes. It shows a young man leaning forward, holding the leash and collar of the two yapping hounds he is releasing. He is dressed in period clothing: knee-length trousers, a jacket, and a vest; a kerchief is tied around his neck. He is wearing a wig and a hat with a curved-up brim.