Candlestick in the form of a Putto (see also 1975.1.1374, .1375, .1377)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1600 or later
Medium
Bronze (Copper alloy with a dull patina varying from a reddish to olive green color).
Dimensions
H. 26.7 cm.
Classification
Metalwork
Culture
Italian, Venice
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1376
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delightful bronze candlestick, shaped as a playful putto astride a horse, hails from Venice, Italy, around1600 or later. 26.7 cm tall, it exemplifies the city's renowned metalwork tradition, crafted from a copper alloy that has developed a characteristic dull patina shifting from reddish hues to olive green over centuries. Putti—those chubby, winged cherubs symbolizing innocence, love, and exuberance—were ubiquitous in Renaissance and Baroque art, often depicted in dynamic poses to evoke joy and movement. Venetian bronzes like this one highlight the era's mastery of lost-wax casting, all...