Twee putti met medaillon, waarin de verschijning van Apollo aan de muze 1744

This 1744 drawing, *Twee putti met medaillon, waarin de verschijning van Apollo aan de muze*, by Dutch artist Jacob de Wit (1695-1754) depicts two putti holding a circular frame, which encloses a scene of Apollo appearing to a Muse. The drawing is a study for a larger work, possibly a painting or sculpture, and demonstrates de Wit's skilled hand and eye for detail. The use of putti, the mythological Roman figures often depicted as cherubs, in conjunction with the frame containing the central scene, evokes the aesthetic of the Baroque period, known for its dramatic use of light and shadow and its theatrical, often religious themes. This drawing exemplifies de Wit's contributions to the artistic tradition of his time.