Two winged putti riding parallel on dolphins above the water surface, an oval composition
ca. 1550–87
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
oval sheet: 5 7/8 x 8 11/16 in. (15 x 22 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.307
Tags
Art Historical Context
In this enchanting oval engraving, *Two Winged Putti Riding Parallel Dolphins Above the Water Surface created around 1550–87, visitors encounter the whimsical interplay of Adamo Ghisi Scult, a masterful Italian engraver, and Giulio, the influential Mannerist painter and architect. Scultori's precise burin work reproduces Romano's dynamic design, capturing two cherubic putti—those joyful, winged infants emblematic of Renaissance playfulness—frolicking astride dolphins just skimming the waves. The oval format adds a sense of intimate, jewel-like elegance, perfect for decorative frames or collect...