{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O311586"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O311586/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG3459/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG3459/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AG3459","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KV8761","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O311586/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O311586","accessionNumber":"A.72-1953","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"A Weeping Lawyer","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This terracotta figure is attributed to Pieter Xavery (b. 1647), a Netherlandish sculptor, who mainly worked in clay, and seems to have specialised in caricatures subjects.\r\nThe subject of the statuette, along with that of the 'Laughing Lawyer' (V&A no. A.71-1953), may have been inspired by contemporary representations of the ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Heraclitus, who are likewise depicted as laughing and weeping. The two philosophers were also painted by a number of Dutch artists, for example Hendrick ter Brugghen in his painting of 1628, now in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.","physicalDescription":"This is one of a pair of terracotta figures, this one representing a weeping lawyer. He carries a book or paper under his right arm and with his left holds a tissue towards his left eye and cheek. He wears long robe. On a square pedestal.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Xavery, Pieter","id":"A30868"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"x43862"},"note":"ascribed to"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"terracotta","id":"AAT10669"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Terracotta","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AG3459","2018KV8761"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES396117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Netherlands","id":"x29020"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"North"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 17th century","earliest":"1650-01-01","latest":"1700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"A.71-1953","id":"O311587"},"association":"Ensemble"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"42","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1953.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Statuette, terracotta, A Weeping Lawyer, ascribed to Pieter Xavery, North Netherlandish, late 17th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Brown, Christopher and Joyce Plesters, <i>Art in 17th century Holland</i>, London: the National Gallery, 1976.","id":"AUTH347585"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"lawyer","id":"AAT25627"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.72-1953"],"accessionNumberNum":"72","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1953,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-10","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}