Three putti before a large garland, the one in the middle rides an ostrich, from a series of tapestries made for Leo X
Original title: Three putti before a large garland, the one in the middle rides an ostrich, from a series of tapestries made for Leo X
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1530–40 the Master of the Die made this engraving of three putti, the middle one riding an ostrich and holding a book. The figures stand before a large garland arch, hung thick with fruit and flowers. The print belongs to a series after tapestries woven for Pope Leo X.
Description
A symmetrical layout: three putti frame a heavy arch of fruit and blossom. The boy in the middle sits on the ostrich and holds a book, while the other two grip the bird's wings as if to steady it. Two birds cross the upper part of the image. Precise, slender lines outline the figures and the foliage; light falls evenly, with no hard shadows, which underlines the ornamental flatness. Everything stays monochrome.
Context
Made in the first half of the sixteenth century, probably in Rome, where the master worked under his die mark. The source was a set of tapestries for Pope Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici), part of a larger commission meant to strengthen papal display. The engraving spread these designs and formed part of a series aimed at collectors and artists. The dating around 1530–40 falls after Leo's death in 1521, pointing to a later reception of the tapestries.
Impact
The symmetry and the decorative garland give the sheet a calm presence. The densely worked lines make the forms feel almost tangible and bring Renaissance fancy to life, with its playful putti and exotic bird. Even light and clear contours lead the eye along like a pattern of ornament.
Technique
For an engraving, the drawing is cut into a metal plate and transferred to paper with printing ink. Parallel hatching models the forms and produces an overall grey tone. This impression is the first of two states, suggesting an early version of the plate.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)