Schoorsteenstuk met putti en kat 1742

Jan Baptist Xavery created this terracotta relief, "Chimneypiece with putti and cat," during the 18th century, a time when the decorative arts flourished, reflecting the opulence of the era. This piece, with its playful cherubs—or putti—and a domestic cat, invites us into the social values and aesthetic preferences of the period. Putti, often seen in art commissioned by the powerful, were symbols of innocence and divine love, embodying the era's complex relationship with childhood and morality. Xavery's choice to include a cat alongside these idealized figures also speaks to the evolving role of animals in domestic life and art. While seemingly a simple scene, this relief subtly weaves together themes of innocence, domesticity, and the ornamentation that characterized elite life during the 1700s. In its intimate scale and subject matter, Xavery’s work offers a glimpse into both the public aspirations and private affections of its time.