Head of a Putto or Cherub
Drawing on paper, framed • Circle of Carlo Maratta or workshop of François Boucher (Manner of Old Master drawing)
Style & Movement
Baroque / Rococo / Neoclassical
Medium & Technique
Black chalk or graphite with white chalk highlights on blue or tinted paper (chiaroscuro drawing technique)
Creation Period
17th - 18th Century (Baroque or Neoclassical period)
Dimensions & Format
Approx. 12 x 8 inches (visible drawing); Portrait format within an architectural tabernacle frame.
Subject Description
A three-quarter profile study of a young child's head, likely a putto or Christ child. The composition focuses on the soft modeling of the face, curly hair, and downward gaze, typical of devotional or decorative studies in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows signs of age-related foxing and staining on the paper support.
Estimated Market Value
$1,500 - $3,500 (dependent on verification of artist attribution)
Auction Estimate
$800 - $1,200
Provenance History
Unknown; the elaborate architectural tabernacle frame suggests 19th-century salon or private collection housing to elevate a smaller study.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the academic tradition of 'testa di carattere' or character head studies used as preparatory work for larger altarpieces or ceiling frescos in the European tradition.
Notable Features
Housed in a distinctive gilt wood and faux-ebonized architectural frame with floral bosses and column motifs, characteristic of the 19th-century revival styles.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing (brown spots), possible moisture staining at the top edge, and paper yellowing. The frame has minor gilding loss at the top right corner.
Conservation Recommendations
Examination by a paper conservator to treat foxing; remounting with acid-free materials and UV-protective Museum Glass.