Putto met rechthoek en passer before 1689

This drawing features a putto with rectangle and calipers, and was made by an anonymous artist. Note the putto at the center, a cherubic figure that is a motif inherited from classical antiquity, and the dragons on either side of the composition. In Roman art, putti were often associated with love, celebrations, and prosperity. Here, the putto brandishes instruments – the ruler and compass – of precision and order. Consider how these figures reflect an ambition to measure and understand the world through reason. These are themes that have echoed through centuries, from Renaissance scientific drawings to modern-day emblems of progress. As we see these motifs recur, sometimes playfully, sometimes with grave intent, they engage our own memory and stir subconscious recognition of cultural aspirations. The dragons, similarly, appear on the shields of medieval knights, evoking the primordial chaos which the human spirit must overcome. This image is a striking reminder of how symbols evolve, yet retain the power to resonate across time.