Three Putti
1738â49
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-247-12
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Three Putti** François Boucher (1703–1770), a master of French Rococo art, created this charming print between 1738 and 1749, during the height of his career as a painter to King Louis XV. Boucher was for his lighthearted, decorative scenes filled with mythological whimsy, pastel colors, and figures. Putti—playful, winged cherubs derived from classical antiquity—were a favorite motif in his work, symbolizing love,, and the joys of earthly pleasures. This piece captures the Rococo spirit of elegance and delight, evoking the opulent world of 18th-century French aristocracy. As a print, *Thr...