Jean Jacques Lagrenée the Younger (Paris 1739-1821)
Two putti with doves amongst clouds
signed and dated 'Lagrenée lejeune/ 1775' (lower left)
oil on canvas
80.2 x 88.4cm (31 9/16 x 34 13/16in).
Footnotes:
Provenance
Sale, Damien Libert, Paris, 30 September 2011, lot 45, where purchased by the present owner

By 1775, Jean Jacques Lagrenée had been fully accepted into the Académie Royale and had become an accomplished decorative painter receiving numerous prestigious commissions such as the Galerie d'Apollon at the Louvre and the Council Chamber of the Palace of Fontainebleau, both executed at the same time as the present work.

Unexamined out of frame.
The canvas has been relined.
The varnish is a little yellow and scuffed. In raking light it is possible to see a few small areas of restoration to the sky, upper right.
Discoloured restoration is visible to the clouds, particularly lower left and lower centre. In strong light it is possible to see retouching to the putto's back, centre left.
Inspection under UV light is hindered by thick varnish but it is possible to see:
restoration and infilling to the craquelure of the cloud, much of the lower left corner; a further few small areas of restoration to the cloud, largest being lower centre, approx. 3 x 5cm; a few spots of retouching to the putto's right foot; a few small areas of restoration to the yellow drapery, largest being approx. 2.5 x 4.5cm, centre left; the aforementioned restoration to the putto's back, approx. 8 x 1.5cm; and a few very tiny infillings scattered to flesh tones and drapery. Further restoration cannot be excluded.