Design for a Rocaille Cartouche with the Figure of a Putto, Plate 3 from an untitled series with architectural cartouches and allegorical figures 1745 - 1755

This etching by Jacob Gottlieb Thelot is a design for a rococo cartouche, a decorative element often used in architecture and furniture. The cartouche features a putto, a winged cherub, perched atop a swirling, asymmetrical form reminiscent of the shell-like shapes characteristic of the rococo style. Thelot’s etching is a prime example of rococo ornamentation, emphasizing fluid lines and elaborate motifs. The image, from a series of architectural cartouches and allegorical figures, exemplifies the Rococo style's appeal to the aristocracy of the 18th century.