Felice età! Età dell'oro
c. 1716-20
Watteau, the master of Rococo whimsy, captures a fleeting moment of childhood innocence here. A chubby toddler in white and a straw hat, perched on a rock like a tiny king, gazes out while a girl in a dark dress approaches holding a wooden bat, perhaps ready for a game. Two other children watch from the side, adding to the sense of a secret playground society. It’s a snapshot of the 'Golden Age'—a time before adulthood ruined the fun—painted with loose, feathery brushstrokes that make the whole scene shimmer. The cracked surface of the paint only adds to the feeling of a memory from long ago.
- Technique
- Oil painting
Location: Wallace Collection, London
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