{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O311587"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O311587/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG3450/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG3450/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AG3450","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KV8786","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O311587/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O311587","accessionNumber":"A.71-1953","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"Laughing 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 'Weeping Lawyer' (V&A no. A.72-1953), 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 laughing lawyer. He carries a book in his left hand and supporting it with his right. He wears long robe and stands on a square pedestal. At the base of the pedestal beside his right foot, lies a book, partly hidden by his robe. The statuettes may be satirical figures.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Xavery, Pieter","id":"A30868"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"x43862"},"note":"ascribed to"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Terracotta","id":"AAT10669"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Modelled","id":"x30779"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Terracotta","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AG3450","2018KV8786"],"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.72-1953","id":"O311586"},"association":"Ensemble"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"42.5","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":"The subject may  have been inspired by the two popular representations of two Greek philosophers, Democritus and Heraclitus, who are pictured as laughing and weeping over the world. They were painted by a number of Dutch artists, for example by Hendrick ter Brugghen in 1628 (see Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam).","briefDescription":"Statuette, terracotta, A Laughing Lawyer, ascribed to Pieter Xavery, 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.71-1953"],"accessionNumberNum":"71","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1953,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-10","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}