This commissioned, large-scale, hand-painted plate painting was inspired by two ca. 1755 Chelsea porcelain factory plates from the High’s Frances and Emory Cocke Collection of English Ceramics. Molly Hatch’s unique new work re-imagines the original depiction of flora and fauna found in the botanical Physic Garden that neighbored the Chelsea factory and inspired workers in the 1750s.
Hatch often sources historical objects—specifically prints and drawings—to make a contemporary counterpart; however, this project marks the first time she sourced decorative arts to create a site-specific “plate painting.” Hatch’s process first requires high-resolution images of the surface decoration of the original source plates. She digitally alters the images—their color, scale, and composition—which creates a new pattern that is then projected over the plates and hand painted by the artist. This installation is her largest ever produced.
Credit
Acquisition supported with funds from The Fraser-Parker Foundation