Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16

Laurent de La Hyre
Portrait of Putti Playing - French 17th century art Old Master oil painting

Circa 1645

About the Item

This stunning French 17th century Old Master oil painting is by Baroque artist Laurent de la Hyre. It was painted circa 1645 and has excellent provenance from Christie's. The painting is a superb large oil on canvas depicting two Putti or winged male cherubs in the foreground, on the edge of a wood. They are wrestling over some reeds, their red and black bows discarded in their play. The putti are beautifully illuminated, almost glowing with a superb play of light and shadow on their bodies against the darker background of the woods and landscape. The detail in their wings, hair and the flora and fauna are fantastic. This is a stunning large French Baroque Old Master oil painting from the 17th century and an excellent example of Hyre's work Provenance. Christie's, 'Old Master Pictures', 11 December 2002, lot 79. Stamp verso. Condition. Oil on canvas, 46 inches by 36 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in an ornate gilt frame, 54 inches by 44 inches and in good condition. Laurent de La Hyre (1606-1656) was a French Baroque painter, born in Paris. He was a leading exponent of the neoclassical style of Parisian Atticism. La Hyre was greatly influenced by the work of Italian artists who came to Paris. He became a pupil of Georges Lallemand and studied the works of Primaticcio at Fontainebleau, but never visited Italy. La Hyre's captivating use of color and delicately posed figures are a trademark of his early, painteresque style. He was an innovative artist who used his superior skills as a storyteller to portray rarely depicted subjects. La Hyre is associated with the transitional period before the introduction of the French Baroque by Simon Vouet. His picture of Pope Nicholas V opening the crypt in which he discovers the corpse of St. Francis of Assisi standing (located at the Louvre) was executed in 1630 for the Capuchin friars of the Marais; its gravity and sobriety seems to have been influential for the next generation of French painters, particularly Eustache Le Sueur. The Louvre contains eight other works, and paintings by La Hyre are in the museums of Strasburg, Rouen and Le Mans. His drawings, of which the British Museum possesses a fine example, Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple, are treated as seriously as his paintings, and sometimes show simplicity and dignity of effect. The example of the Capuchins, for whom he executed several other works in Paris, Rouen and Fécamp, was followed by the goldsmith's company, for whom he produced in 1635 St. Peter healing the Sick (Louvre) and the Conversion of St Paul in 1637. In 1648, La Hyre was one of the founders of the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture and was elected as one of the original twelve elders in charge of its running. Richelieu called La Hyre to the Palais Royal; Pierre Séguier, Gédéon Tallemant des Réaux and many others entrusted him with important works of decoration; for the Gobelins he designed a series of large compositions. La Hyre painted also a great number of portraits, and in 1654 united in one work for the town-hall of Paris those of the principal dignitaries of the municipality. His students included François Chauveau. A putto is a figure in a work of art depicted as a chubby male child, usually naked and sometimes winged. Originally limited to profane passions in symbolism, the putto came to represent the sacred cherub (plural cherubim), and in Baroque art the putto came to represent the omnipresence of God. A putto representing a cupid is also called an amorino (plural amorini) or amoretto (plural amoretti).
  • Creator:
    Laurent de La Hyre
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1645
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 44 in (111.76 cm)Width: 54 in (137.16 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU853113076612
More From This SellerView All
  • Serenade in the Harem - French 19th Century Orientalist art nude oil painting
    By Joseph Caraud
    Located in London, GB
    This beautiful French 19th century Orientalist oil painting is by noted French artist Joseph Caraud. It was painted circa 1848 when Caraud was painting Algerian scenes. The compositi...
    Category

    19th Century Realist Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Pre-Raphaelite Beauty - Victorian art nude oil portrait - British female artist
    By Sara Wells Page
    Located in London, GB
    Painted by Sara Wells Page this is a large stunning half-length Pre-Raphaelite portrait oil painting of a semi clad young woman. It was painted circa 1900 by Page who worked and exhi...
    Category

    Early 1900s Victorian Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Reclining nude - British Art Deco 30s female portrait oil painting female artist
    By Dora Crockett
    Located in London, GB
    A stunning exhibited 1934 nude female portrait by Dora Crocket (Countess Lewenhaupt). The portrait depicts a nude woman reclining in a sensual pose against a background of red and bl...
    Category

    1930s Art Deco Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Portrait of Woman Bathing-Scottish 20's Impressionist nude interior oil painting
    By David Foggie
    Located in London, GB
    A large, original Scottish portrait by noted Scottish artist David Foggie. This oil on canvas depicts a woman bathing and is one of his best portraits. It dates to 1924 and is in fin...
    Category

    20th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Nude Portrait of a Spanish Woman - Scottish art female portrait oil painting
    By William Crosbie
    Located in London, GB
    This striking nude portrait oil painting is by noted Scottish artist William Crosbie. It is entitled Guapa verso, Spanish for a beautiful woman. Painted in 1981, she is wearing a bla...
    Category

    20th Century Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • The Maiden - British Newlyn exhib art nude Laura Knight portrait oil painting
    By Harold Knight
    Located in London, GB
    This stunning exhibited nude portrait oil painting is by noted British Newlyn School artist Harold Knight. `The Maiden` was painted at Dozmary. The Belgrave Gallery catalogue 1986 suggests the sitter is in fact his wife, Laura Knight the noted artist. The sensuous understanding of the flesh tones and anatomy reveals the qualities that established Knight's reputation as a leading portrait painter after the War. This picture may be dated to c.1916. A really lovely portrait by a much sought after artist. Signed lower left. Provenance. Fifty Years Ago Exhibition, RWS Galleries, June 1965, no. 200. Miles Lamdin Gallery, London. Belgrave Gallery February 1986 which suggests in their catalogue the sitter is Laura Knight. Shades of British Impressionism...
    Category

    1910s Realist Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

You May Also Like
  • Early 17th Century Italian Old Master Semi Nude Man with Dagger oil painting
    By Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
    Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
    Semi Nude Man drawing a Dagger Italian School, early 17th century circle of Caravaggio oil on canvas, framed framed: 21 x 17 inches canvas : 18 x 14 i...
    Category

    Early 17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Fine Antique Classical Nude Draped in Robes Dancing with Dog Gold Background
    Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
    Artist/ School: Italian School, 19th century Title: Classical nude draped in robes with dancing dog. The work looks as though it might have been a ceiling...
    Category

    19th Century Old Masters Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • The Naiad and the Swan - Painting 19th Century
    Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
    Albert Auguste FOURIE (1854-1937) The Naiad And The Swan Oil on Wood signed low left New golden and invory stick frame Dim wood panel : 35 X 27 ...
    Category

    Late 19th Century Symbolist Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • 'Reut' by Roni Taharlev - Nude Portrait of a Young Woman - Oil Painting
    By Roni Taharlev
    Located in Carmel, CA
    In "Untitled," a 20" x 20" oil on canvas, Roni Taharlev captures an intimate moment of introspection. The painting's muted palette, with soft earth tones against a subdued backdrop, ...
    Category

    2010s Renaissance Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • ‘Seated Woman In White Room’ Figurative Nude Female Contemporary by Shana Wilson
    By Shana Wilson
    Located in Carmel, CA
    Shana’s portraits adorned two covers of Time Magazine. Shana’s work is about the face and eyes. Young face, old face, black or white. Her subjects are confused, lonely, ragged and ...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • 'Zulu Dancers'
    Located in Amsterdam, NL
    ‘Zulu Dancers’ Signed bottom right Hardman, titled on a sticker at the reverse and with address Walton End, Walton Lane, Bosham, Chichester, and Price 45 gns. Oil on board, 99 x 87...
    Category

    20th Century Expressionist Nude Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Board

Recently Viewed

View All