Putti in a Circle Dance with a Dog c. 1700

Gabriel Grupello carved this ivory relief of putti with a dog sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Grupello worked during the Baroque period, a time when the Catholic Church was looking to revitalize its image in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. Images of putti, often seen in art commissioned by the Church and other wealthy patrons, symbolized innocence and divine love. Here, we see these figures not in quiet contemplation, but in dynamic play with a dog, which brings forth questions about the representation of innocence, freedom, and social status. The dog can be read as both a playmate and an emblem of domesticity and loyalty, subtly reinforcing the era's hierarchical social structures. The intimate portrayal invites us to consider the relationship between power, religion, and everyday life in Baroque society, reflecting on how symbols can mask complex social dynamics.