Putto with a yoke 1774

This etching by Violante Vanni, a prominent Italian artist of the 18th century, features a cherubic figure, or putto, straining under the weight of a yoke. The putto, shown in the foreground, is depicted floating above a cloud, suggesting a heavenly setting. The image evokes the theme of youth burdened by labor. The inscription at the bottom, in Latin, reads: "While strength and years allow, endure labor, for age will come swiftly on silent foot." The etching, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Vanni's skill and the enduring fascination with cherubic imagery in art.