A SET OF EIGHT CARVED IVORY PUTTI

François Duquesnoy, who was famous for his depictions of fleshy nude children in both drawings and sculpture, was a Fleming by birth but spent most of his working life in Rome. The present ivory putti are all based on Duquesnoy models, either directly or with minor variations (see M. Boudon-Machuel, François du Quesnoy 1597-1643, Paris, 2005, pp. 300-301 and 307-309, in. 71 ex. 2, in. 72 ex. 1, in. 85 ex. 1, in. 87 ex. 5, in. 86 ex. 2, in. 87 ex. 2).