Winged Putti with Flowers
Original title: Winged Putti with Flowers
kurzbeschreibung
Drawn around 1750 by François Boucher, this sheet shows two winged putti seated on the ground, each holding a flower. Worked in black chalk, gray wash, and white chalk, it captures the playful Rococo sensibility that runs through Boucher's art.
Description
Seated on the ground, the putto on the left turns toward the left with a flower, while the one on the right holds a flower in his left hand and looks to the right. Both are naked and barefoot, with short curly hair. A plain backdrop keeps the attention on the figures. Gray tones dominate, accented with white and brown, and the light falls evenly across the sheet.
Context
François Boucher, a leading master of the French Rococo, produced a great many mythological and decorative works. This drawing dates to about 1750, when Boucher held the posts of First Painter to the King and director of the Académie royale. Putti were popular in Rococo art, often serving as decoration or as preparatory studies.
Impact
Lightness and grace in the childlike figures set the tone of the sheet. The restrained palette and soft wash lend it an intimate, sketch-like quality that opens a window onto the playful world of the Rococo.
Technique
Boucher worked in black chalk, brush, gray wash, and white chalk on paper. This allowed him fine gradations of light and shadow and a painterly effect. The method is characteristic of his drawings, which often served as a preliminary stage for paintings or prints.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)