Who created "Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens"?

Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens was created by Anonymous, Italian, second half of the 16th century in 1550–1600.

When was "Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens" created?

This artwork was created 1550–1600.

What medium is "Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens"?

Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens is Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over black chalk; selectively pricked for transfer..

Is "Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens" in the public domain?

Yes, Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens

Anonymous, Italian, second half of the 16th century

1550–1600

Medium

Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over black chalk; selectively pricked for transfer.

Dimensions

3 7/8 x 2 9/16 in. (9.8 x 6.5 cm)

Classification

Drawings|Ornament & Architecture

Department

Drawings and Prints

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1952

Accession Number

52.570.149

Art Historical Context

This delicate drawing, titled *Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens*, hails from Italy during the vibrant second half of the th century (1550–1600), a time when Renaissance workshops buzzed with designs for ornate frames to showcase paintings and altarpieces. Created by an anonymous artist, it features playful putti—chubby, winged cherubs—and alluring sirens, mythical sea creatures symbolizing temptation and beauty. These motifs drew from classical antiquity, blending whimsy with elegance in the Mannerist style popular in Italian decorative arts. Executed in pen and brown ink with brush a...

Design for a Frame with Putti and Sirens

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