Design for Wall Decor Painted with Putti and Dogs

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, where you'll find *Design for Wall Decor Painted with Put and Dogs*, a charming gouache by French artists-Edmond-Charlesachaise and Eugène Gourdet, created before1889. Measuring a modest 16½ x 9⅛ inches, this preparatory captures the whimsical spirit of19th-century interior design envisioning playful puttithose endearing, chubby cherubic figures rooted in Renaissance and Baroque traditions—frolicking alongside lively dogs. Gouache, an opaque watercolor medium prized for its vibrant colors and smooth finish, was ideal for such detailed decorative proposals, allowing the artists to simulate the final painted mural's richness. Likely intended for an elegant wall panel in a grand home or public space, the work reflects the era's revival of historic ornamentation amid the Belle Époque's opulent tastes. The inclusion of dogs adds a touch of everyday delight, evoking loyalty and joy in domestic scenes. Acquired through The Elisha Whittelsey Fund in 1968, this piece offers a window into collaborative design practices of the time, blending mythology with animal companionship to create timeless, lively decoration. A delightful glimpse into how art adorned everyday luxury!

About the Artist

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise|Eugène-Pierre Gourdet · 1897–1897

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise, born Jules Lachaise on September 2, 1836, in Paris, emerged as a prominent French painter and draughtsman specializing in lavish interior decorations during the Second Empire and beyond. Little is known about his early life and formal training, though he married Berthe Gourdet in 1866, forging a close professional partnership with her brother, the decorator Eugène-Pi...