Design for a Rocaille Cartouche with the Figure of Putto holding up a Cup, Plate 4 from an untitled series with architectural cartouches and allegorical figures 1745 - 1755

This etching by Jacob Gottlieb Thelot, created between 1745 and 1755, is a design for a rococo cartouche. The intricate design features a putto holding up a cup, surrounded by swirling, asymmetrical foliage. The cartouche, a decorative element used to frame inscriptions or other designs, is a quintessential feature of rococo art. This elaborate, ornamental design, typical of the rococo style, showcases the movement's emphasis on elegance, lightness, and movement. The etching, part of an untitled series featuring architectural cartouches and allegorical figures, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.