Pair Of Carved Panels Decorated With Winged Cherubs, Chestnut – France, 17th Century.

Pair of carved panels decorated with winged cherubs, chestnut – France, 17th century, Interesting and large pair of chestnut panels carved in high relief, each decorated with a youthful face of a cherub surrounded by a pair of outstretched wings. The two figures are treated in symmetry, one facing left, the other right, responding to each other as if to frame a decoration. This mirrored arrangement attests to this being a genuine pair conceived from the outset. Each cherub emerges from a lush Baroque decoration: blank central cartouche, deeply carved acanthus scrolls, vegetal falls and a crown finial. The sculpture, vigorous and expressive, characterizes the French Baroque taste of the second half of the 17th century, Louis XIII – Louis XIV period, where religious and decorative ornaments multiply the effects of relief and theatricality. Such panels could adorn the woodwork of a church, an altarpiece, a pulpit, or even the wainscoting of a large aristocratic interior. We notice subtle differences in the treatment of the ornaments and scrolls between the two panels: more or less open volutes, more or less emphasized modeling, variations in the foliage. These differences, far from being irregularities, are on the contrary the mark of an entirely manual work, probably carried out in the same workshop. In the Baroque aesthetic, this absence of mechanical repetition introduces an additional liveliness and energy, reinforcing the decorative effect and the expressiveness of the whole. Each panel is entirely carved in the mass, from a thick chestnut board, without gluing or additional assembly. This very demanding technique underlines the quality of the work. State of conservation: – One of the panels has two lateral grafts, very old restoration visible on the reverse. – Two small, more recent restorations are visible in the acanthus decoration, discreet and respectful interventions, almost invisible on the facade – The whole retains a beautiful patina, its powerful reliefs and the integrity of its decoration, we have just cleaned them and applied a natural wax. Preserved in pairs, with their perfect but lively symmetry effect, these panels constitute a decorative ensemble, a true fragment of interior architecture which has become a collector's item. Dimensions (each panel): Height 73 cm Width 49 cm Thickness 12 cm