Who painted Two Putti?

Two Putti was painted by Unknown in 1704.

Where can I see Two Putti?

Two Putti is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Two Putti?

Two Putti is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Two Putti

Unknown , 1704

Two Putti is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1704 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a pair of cherubic figures, commonly known as putti, engaged in a lighthearted interaction.

About this work

Overview

The work presents a pair of cherubic figures, commonly known as putti, engaged in a lighthearted interaction. One child‑like figure presses a horn to the other's ear while the second shields his ears with his hands, his mouth open in a gesture of protest. The scene is set against a muted green background that has darkened over time, and the original pink flesh tones now appear bronzed.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a moment of playful mischief, illustrating the traditional Renaissance fascination with infant angels as symbols of innocence and divine humor. The act of one putto blowing a horn into the other's ear suggests a gentle teasing, a motif often employed to convey the fleeting nature of joy and the innocence of youthful interaction.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on panel, the painting originally featured a bright green‑blue sky that has since shifted to a mossy hue due to varnish discoloration. The artist employed a soft modeling of flesh, typical of early 16th‑century Italian practice, though the pigments have aged, turning the pink tones to a bronze patina and the gray horn to a brass‑like sheen.

Context

The imagery echoes the playful putti Correggio painted in 1519 for the oval ceiling frescoes of the Camera di San Paolo in Parma. Those frescoes were commissioned by Abbess Gioanna da Piacenza for her private quarters in the Benedictine convent. After her death the convent remained closed to visitors for nearly two centuries, limiting direct exposure to the works.

History & Provenance

The present painting may derive from sketches made of Correggio’s frescoes during the abbess’s lifetime, or it could be the result of an artist who, after the convent reopened to the public, studied the originals and adapted their motifs. The work thus reflects both the transmission of Correggio’s designs and the continued appeal of his putti in later artistic circles.