Plate of of "Hercules at the Crossroads", China, Jingdezhen and Canton, Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), Qianlong era (1736 - 1795), 1760 to 1770. Porcelain, painted in black, iron red and gold. H. 3.8 cm, D. 32.3 cm. PO 3124. Porcelain Collection. © Dresden State Art Collections 2013

Since about 1720 porcelain painting workshops in China began to paint on porcelain exports to Europe with Christian and ancient mythological scenes. As templates corresponding figures came from Europe, including many engravings. When copying to problems began: Although the production of a black Aufglasurfarbe for linear drawing succeeded after 1722, but the understanding of the subjects was to copy the Chinese porcelain painters probably usually closed because they had no contact with the clients. The painting of the plate can be shown clearly on close (not yet determined) engraving templates, which sought to faithfully copy of, or the painter. But the fame of the proverbial athletic ancient virtuous hero Hercules (Greek Heracles) was not up to it - or them - and so his stocky body shapes look almost feminine. The logical consequence is again that the lobe of heroes rises as fold in his robe. The road, pausing on the personifications of Hercules between virtue and vice, rather looks like a stream - this is where the painter has probably strayed into another issue with three figures, Christ's baptism in the Jordan. The outline of the picture is "foliage and Bandel work" kept in the forms of the late baroque, whose name embossed in southern Germany points to the essential elements. The red and gold "spearhead edge" which is also reminiscent of Kronreifen, 1740 and 1770 frequently encountered on export porcelain chinesichem the years. (Dresden Porcelain Collection, leader by constantly Ausstellung.1998, S 73)