Artus II. Quellinus Sint Truiden 1625 - 1700 Antwerp, attributed Standing putto Southern Netherlands or Antwerp 2nd half 17th century Terracotta, hand molded Height 40 cm This charming terracotta figure of a putto (possibly an allegorical representation) can be attributed to the important South Netherlandish sculptor Artus Quellinus the Younger. The standing putto is stylistically similar to the sculptor's allegorical marble sculptures depicting the seasons of autumn and summer, now in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Arthur Quellinus II was born in Sint-Truiden in the province of Limburg. He came from a family of sculptors and painters. It is likely that he was trained by his cousin, the famous Baroque sculptor Artus I Quellinus the Elder. He worked with him on the decoration of the Amsterdam City Hall. He then traveled to Italy for some time before settling in Antwerp in 1663. In his new hometown, the sculptor received numerous important commissions. Through his style, Artus Quellinus II played a lasting role in the development of Flemish sculpture from the High to the Late Baroque. In his early days still close to his cousin Artus I, who had worked in the workshop of François Duquesnoy, he later developed a more dramatic and expressive form in the style of Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Lucas Faydherbe.