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Nymph and Putti; Nymph with a Wreath and Putti with Garlands of Flowers

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 640
Sauvage’s name was synonymous with trompe l’oeil (fool the eye) paintings that imitated the low relief carvings in ancient sculpture that became hugely popular during the late eighteenth century. In these unusual examples, Sauvage used a thick slate support to which he added oil paint in imitation of wax, a flexible medium often used by sculptors who were working out a composition before they began carving in unforgiving stone. The result is a brilliant play on artistic process and the differences between painting and sculpture, a recurrent comparison in the Western tradition. The reverse sides of these slate slabs are carved with the name of a cabinetmaker, indicating that Sauvage repurposed his supports from another craftsman’s shop sign.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Nymph and Putti; Nymph with a Wreath and Putti with Garlands of Flowers
  • Artist: Piat Joseph Sauvage (Flemish, Tournai 1744–1818 Tournai)
  • Medium: Oil on slate
  • Dimensions: (a) 9 1/2 x 23 1/4 in. (24.1 x 59.1 cm); (b) 9 5/8 x 23 3/4 in. (24.4 x 60.3 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1906
  • Object Number: 07.225.306ab
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Putti with Birds, Piat Joseph Sauvage Flemish, Oil on canvas, French
Putti with Birds
Piat Joseph Sauvage
second half 18th century
Autumnal Sacrifice, Piat Joseph Sauvage Flemish, Oil on canvas; wood frame, French
Autumnal Sacrifice
Piat Joseph Sauvage
18th century
Mother and Children, Piat Joseph Sauvage Flemish, Oil on canvas, en grisaille, French
Mother and Children
Piat Joseph Sauvage
1770–90
The youthful Bacchus carried by two companions, Piat Joseph Sauvage Flemish, Oil on canvas, French
The youthful Bacchus carried by two companions
Piat Joseph Sauvage
1770–90
Amorini at play (one of a pair), Piat Joseph Sauvage Flemish, Oil on canvas, French
Amorini at play (one of a pair)
Piat Joseph Sauvage
1770–90

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