Soup plate - With the view of the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta) in Rome (Part of Alexandra Pavlovna's table set)

The narrow, rising, wavy rim is decorated with pink roses of green leaves, against a gilt base. The surface shows a round field, enframed by gilt spots, showing the paintings of different Roman buildings, with French inscriptions: L.Eglise Monastere de S Dominque et S.Sixte Palais de Latran Cirque de Caracalla Une ruine de l’Amphiteatre Flavien Escalier Saint. The five plates were produced in 1795 in the Saint Petersburg factory they show etchings of Giovanni Battista Piranesi, made in 1756, against a golden base, enriched with polychrome flower bunches. The next period of the factory, beginning with 1796, left off the gold base, thus breaking with this complicated manner of decoration. Marked in blue underglaze with the factory mark on the bottom.