Three Muses and a Gesturing Putto, from a series of eight compositions after Francesco Primaticcio's designs for the ceiling of the Ulysses Gallery (destroyed 1738-39) at Fontainebleau 1560s

This is a print by Giorgio Ghisi, created in the 1560s, after a design by Francesco Primaticcio. The artwork is a reproduction of a scene from the destroyed Ulysses Gallery at Fontainebleau Palace. The composition features three Muses, likely representing poetry, painting, and sculpture, seated and looking at a scroll. Above them, a putto, or winged cherub, flies overhead. The detailed shading and precise lines of this engraving are characteristic of the Mannerist style. The engraving, part of a series of eight, was likely created for collectors interested in the decorative arts and Italian Renaissance style. The scene is a testament to the artistic and cultural significance of Fontainebleau, an influential court for the arts in the 16th century.