Reproduction Sculpture in Dutch Genre Painting of the Second Half of the 17th Century

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of the reproduction sculpture of the Johan Larson family workshop and the strategies of its reproduction in the Dutch genre painting of the end of the Golden Age. The analysis of the cultural situation in the 17th century Holland indicates that sculpture did not play a significant role in Dutch interiors and was mainly presented by so-called ‘beeldekens’ or figurines that were carved from inexpensive materials or sculpted from plaster, lead, or even wax. The main and largest enterprises in this branch of sculptural production were George and Johan Larson’s workshops in The Hague and London, which, due to a diverse thematic repertoire and international contacts, gained wide recognition both in Holland and beyond. Another conclusion follows from the analysis of the works by H. van der Burch, J. Steen, and G. Metsu, who suggest a different symbolic interpretation of the putto sculptures cast from plaster based on the originals of F. Duquesnoy. If in the compositional structure Larson’s reproductive material performs the function of the aestheticization of the background, then as the plot moves, depending on the content, it generates motives of romantic longing or unrequited attraction. Thus, the present article bridges significant gaps in the study of the Dutch reproductive sculpture of the Golden Age and the peculiarities of its interpretation in genre painting of the second half of the 17th century.