18th Century Spanish School, Circle of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Two Putti with a Bird, Oil on canvas, Paris / Versailles provenance

This refined 18th-century oil painting depicts two putti engaged in a quiet, intimate moment: one gently raising a small bird, the other seated with its back turned, absorbed in the scene. The composition is soft, emotionally grounded, and illuminated through a restrained Baroque chiaroscuro that focuses the eye on the warm modelling of flesh.

The small bird held by the child is a Goldfinch European goldfinch (red mask, pale body, darker wings), a species frequently depicted in Baroque painting. The second bird, shown in pale yellow-green tones with a softer, is most plausibly a greenfinch, birds commonly kept in domestic interiors and associated with song, companionship, and the gentler pleasures of everyday life. In 17th- and 18th-century art, the goldfinch and greenfinch symbolised innocence, the human soul, and the fragility of life, and was especially popular in works influenced by Murillo and his circle, where everyday tenderness and quiet symbolism were closely intertwined.

Provenance & Historical Journey
The reverse of the painting provides an unusually clear and reassuring historical trail.
The original canvas was professionally relined in the mid-19th century, a conservation process reserved for works considered important and worthy of preservation. This relining was carried out in France and the painting subsequently passed through the Paris / Versailles art market, the most significant centre for Old Master conservation and trade during the 19th century. This is seen by the restorers label on the back.

E. Daulé
Miroitier-Doreur
41 Rue de la Paroisse, Versailles
Encadrements

This identifies a professional Versailles-based frame maker and restorer, active during the 19th century and serving collectors and dealers connected to the Paris market. The painting remains housed in a fine, period giltwood frame, entirely appropriate to both the subject and its history.

Condition
• Stable antique condition
• Original canvas professionally relined in the 19th century
• Expected age-related wear and patina
• No structural issues observed

The surface retains its depth and softness, with a gentle patina consistent with age and historical conservation practices.

Sizing incl Frame:
Height: 24.80 inch (63cm)
Width: 28.35 inch (72cm)
Depth: 1.97 inch (5cm)

Sizing Painting:
Height: 18.11 inch (46cm)
Width: 21.65 inch (55cm)
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