Vier putti 1705 - 1754

Jacob de Wit’s etching of Vier putti presents us with a scene of cherubic figures amidst swirling clouds. It was made in the Netherlands at a time when Dutch art was dominated by classicizing styles that looked back to the Italian Renaissance. The cherubs themselves are a visual code that goes back to classical antiquity, but here, in the 18th century, they appear as decorations within private homes, embedded in ceilings or over doors. De Wit made many of these kinds of paintings. They evoke a sense of playfulness, ease and light-heartedness that could be commissioned for a wealthy merchant’s home. The art historian’s task is to look at the many ways in which such an image has been circulated, reproduced and given value within different contexts. Auction catalogues, dealers’ records and inventories of private collections might help us to trace the journey of this image through society and to understand its fluctuating social meanings.