Putto on a Dolphin 1630 - 1665

Gérard van Opstal carved this sculpture of a putto on a dolphin, likely from ivory, sometime in the 17th century. The work exemplifies the Baroque style that dominated European art at the time. Opstal, a sculptor from the Southern Netherlands, made the work during a period when his homeland was under Spanish rule. The Catholic Church was a major patron of the arts, and religious and mythological themes were common. Here we see the figure of a plump baby-like putto, reclining on a dolphin. This imagery references classical antiquity as well as Christian symbolism. Dolphins were a common motif in ancient Roman art, and they also appeared in early Christian art as symbols of salvation and Christ. Putti were often used in Renaissance and Baroque art to represent cherubs or angels, and also as secular symbols of love. To understand the context of the piece, it is helpful to consult historical sources, such as period literature. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.