Study with Cupid and putti.

Drawing, red chalk (sanguine), 20,5 x 32 cm, laid paper with watermark (sl. similar to Heawood:3952), unsigned (damages at upper corners from old glue, some creases).

Tipped onto mount by upper corners.

Attributed on the verso to De Wit (1696-1754), the drawing shows a number of putti in various positions. At the centre, the same figure and position is repeated. To this day, Jacob de Wit's renown is based on his skill in painting perfect imitations of stucco reliefs and sculptures. He became so closely identified with this kind of work, that such paintings came to be called "witjes". De Wit was trained in Amsterdam as a pupil of Gérard de Lairesse, but was also heavily influenced by Flemish painting of Rubens and Van Dyck. The current sheet may have been intended as preliminary sketch for a wall or ceiling painting.
Prov. Sale Galerie Léopold, 21.06.1930 (sales ticket verso).
Joined: Anonymous - Study of heads. French school, 19th c. Drawing, red chalk, 17,5 x 35,7 cm, wove paper, unsigned (stuck to passe-partout, minor creases). (2 pcs)