Attributed to Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich or Dietricy (Germany, 1712-1774) two (2) oil on panel paintings depicting putti or cherubs, seated on clouds, one holding a shield with heart painted on it, the other raising a torch. Both unsigned; each housed in an antique giltwood frame with leaf and c-scroll carvings and a gilt plaque at center with Dietrich's name and life dates. The painting of the cherub with shield has faint inscription en verso of artist's name and biographical information. Sight - 9 1/4" H x 7 1/4" W. Framed - 15" H x 12 1/2" W. Biography: "Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich, also called Dietricy, was born in Weimar in 1712. He was the son and student of Johann Georg Dietrich, a royal painter in Weimar. He was also educated by the Dresden painter Alexander Thiele. From 1733 he was in the service of Augustus the Strong and became royal court painter to August III in 1741. A few years later he was appointed director of the Royal Picture Gallery in Dresden. His works are strongly influenced by the Dutch and Italian paintings." (source: Askart). Provenance: private Nashville, TN Collection, by descent from the estates of Edith and Richard Mickenhagen, Munich, Germany and San Paolo, Brazil.

1st painting: (Cherub with shield): 2" line infill painting at lower center, across leg; scattered other areas of inpaint or overpaint, notably to garment lower left quadrant, upper right corner; scattered small flakes, largest 1/4" upper left edge, filled with gilt paint; 2 1/2" shrinkage crack lower left edge; cracquelure throughout. 2nd painting: Overpaint to entire left, top, and right sides at edge; shrinkage crack running entire width of painting lower left and right quadrants with infill painting along it, particularly where subject's garment meets clouds; shrinkage cracks at upper edge (runs entire width of panel) and two shrinkage cracks at left and right side of upper quadrants, nearly meeting. Scattered tiny flakes, largest 1/4" above cherub's head, infilled with gilt paint. Both paintings with grime. Both frames with shrinkage and minor wear; frames with openings slightly larger than the panels.