Early modern · Art Institute of Chicago · 93280
Two Putti Supporting a Torch
Flemish, 1650–1700
Art Institute of Chicago · Through prior purchase with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. John Golitz; through prior bequest of Hans G. Cahen · Public domain
- Artist
- Flemish
- Date
- 1650–1700
- Medium
- Terracotta on slate
- Dimensions
- 35.2 × 27.9 × 7.3 cm (13 7/8 × 11 × 2 7/8 in.)
- Era
- Early modern
Why it matters
In this terracotta sculpture, a pouting putto and his companion flank an elaborate candelabra with a lit torch. The surfaces of the fleshy baby bodies and architectural elements retain the striations and marks of the sculptor’s tools, an indication that this work was not a finished product. Artists considered terracotta, a type of ceramic characterized by its reddish-brown color, an ideal medium for models. Such models served as guides for their assistants to begin the final version, in this case likely an element of a larger sculptural ensemble.