Design with putti

Art Historical Context

"Design with Putti" is a charming 19th-century oil painting by French artists Jules-Edmond-Charlesachaise and Eugène Gourdet, created in second half of the century Measuring 14 9/16 x 18 3/4 inches, this work features playful putti—those endearing, chubby cherubs rooted in Renaissance and Baroque traditions. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department and classified as a drawing, likely served as a preparatory design or bozzetto, blending the fluidity of sketching with the richness of oil paint. In the context of 19th-century French art, such designs reflected a continued fascination with classical motifs amid the era's academic and decorative arts movements. Collaborations like this one between Lachaise and Gourdet were common in workshops producing ornamental schemes for architecture, furniture, or frescoes, showcasing technical virtuosity in rendering lively figures with soft modeling and dynamic poses. The use of oil on a modest scale allowed for vibrant color and impasto effects, bridging preparatory studies and finished compositions. Acquired through the Dodge Fund in 1967, this piece offers visitors a glimpse into the inventive world of 19th-century design, where whimsy met classical revival. Its presence in the Met's collection highlights the enduring appeal of putti as symbols of joy and innocence across centuries.

About the Artist

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise|Eugène-Pierre Gourdet · 1897–1897

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise, born Jules Lachaise on September 2, 1836, in Paris, emerged as a prominent French painter and draughtsman specializing in lavish interior decorations during the Second Empire and beyond. Little is known about his early life and formal training, though he married Berthe Gourdet in 1866, forging a close professional partnership with her brother, the decorator Eugène-Pi...