MONKEY

One of the key works from Nymphenburg’s historic catalogue of naturalistic animal figures, the monkey sculpture by German naturalist sculptor Theodor Kärner is among the faithful representations he was commissioned to create of exotic animals that toured Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the time, European courts—interested in establishing their respective dominance through the arts, crafts, and natural sciences—would invite their most respected artists to record detailed, lifelike portraits of these rare creatures. Kärner’s sculpture captures both the anatomy and expressive character of the monkey with remarkable precision. The use of soft, bisque porcelain with a matte, unglazed finish enhances the sculpture’s lifelike quality and emphasizes its intricate modeling.