Candelabra with putti on goats at center

Art Historical Context

This elegant etching by Lambrecht Hopfer, created around 1525–50, showcases a whimsical candelabra design centered on playful putti perched atop goats. The composition blends human and animal forms in a lively vertical arrangement typical of ornamental prints that served as models for decorative arts and architecture during the Renaissance. Measuring just over 12 inches in height, the plate’s compact format made it ideal for dissemination among artisans and collectors. Etching, the medium employed here, allowed Hopfer to achieve fine lines and intricate details that captured the dynamic energy of the figures while remaining practical for printing multiple impressions. Classified under Ornament & Architecture, the work reflects the era’s fascination with classical motifs reimagined in inventive ways, providing both aesthetic delight and practical inspiration for metalworkers, woodcarvers, and designers. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this piece highlights how such prints bridged fine art and applied design, preserving imaginative ideas across centuries. Its acquisition through the bequest of Phyllis Massar underscores the enduring appeal of these small yet richly inventive compositions.