Figural Group of Two Putti
Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1824–1887)
Terracotta, giltwood plinth, 12¼ × 16½ × 6 in.
Signed and dated 1864
This finely modeled terracotta group by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse depicts two putti in a tender, playful embrace beside a sheaf of wheat and a barrel—symbols of abundance and festivity. Dated 1864, the work exemplifies Carrier-Belleuse’s skill in combining Rococo-inspired charm with 19th-century French naturalism.
Renowned for his decorative sculpture, Carrier-Belleuse was a prolific and influential figure in 19th-century French art, directing the Sèvres porcelain manufactory and mentoring younger sculptors, including Auguste Rodin. The group rests on its original bead-molded giltwood plinth.
