Winged cherub Napoleon III. France, third quarter of the 19th century

Winged cherub Napoleon III. France, third quarter of the 19th century.
Blued bronze.
Measurements: 27 x 18 x 11,5 cm.

Sculpture in bluing bronze representing a cherub with graceful gestures. The "putto" is an element taken from the Roman iconography, which in the Baroque period came to be considered the representation of the omnipresence of God. In Antiquity they were related to the Roman genii and the Greek daemons, and were frequent in artistic representations related to Dionysus. From the Renaissance onwards, this bacchic sense of the "putto" was taken up again, but a Christian interpretation prevailed. Thus, artists represented them as musical angels in religious scenes, and as companions of the classical gods in mythological scenes. However, despite their symbolic meanings, the "putti" are above all used as decorative elements, related to peace, prosperity, joy and leisure.