Putti Playing Music 1538 - 1539

Pomponio Amalteo rendered this delicate drawing of putti playing music with chalk on blue paper sometime in the 16th century. The putto, a chubby male child, usually naked and often winged, is a motif traceable to classical antiquity. Ancient Greek and Roman art frequently depicted similar figures, often associated with Eros or Cupid, representing love and desire. With the advent of Christianity, these figures were reinterpreted and transformed into angels, retaining their youthful innocence but acquiring new spiritual connotations. The persistence of this symbol speaks to the human psyche's enduring need to visualize purity and divine love. Through a non-linear progression, it resurfaces, evolving and adapting, reflecting our collective desire for innocence and connection to the divine.