Carlton Hobbs 9815

December 17 2009, 6:03pm

Term of the Day: Putti 12/17/09

Detail of one of a set of three maritime oil paintings with incorporated polychrome carved relief hinged panels.

Putti is the plural of putto, which is a human toddler, usually male, depicted in art or as a decoration in architecture or furniture. Since putti are often shown naked, and sometimes with wings, they are also commonly referred to in English as “cherubs”: however, putti come from the secular classical tradition, rather than the Christian tradition, and are associated with Eros (Cupid), the Greco-Roman god of love, who was traditionally represented as a winged baby. Putti became common in artwork and interior design during the Renaissance, and remained popular through the baroque period.

To see more of this set of paintings, visit: chprovenance.net/zoom.asp?strReference=9815