Putti Dancing in a Circle
Original title: Putti dancing in a circle
kurzbeschreibung
Marcantonio Raimondi made this engraving, Tanzende Putten im Kreis, around 1517–20. It shows a group of naked, winged putti holding each other by the hands and moving in a circle. At 11.4 × 16.6 cm, the sheet is one of the fine examples of Renaissance printmaking.
Description
Naked, with short hair and wings, the putti appear and reveal themselves as angels. Each takes the hand of the neighboring figure, and together they form a closed round dance. Poses and expressions vary, so that each putto stands out as an individual character. The background stays flat and spare in detail; the viewer's attention goes entirely to the dancing figures. The layout is symmetrical, the figures evenly distributed, all in shades of gray without visible shadows or highlights.
Context
Marcantonio Raimondi worked as an Italian engraver in the High Renaissance and became known above all for reproductive prints after designs by artists such as Raphael. This engraving was made around 1517–20, when Raimondi was working in Rome and collaborating closely with Raphael. Putti were highly popular in the Renaissance; they were seen as embodiments of innocence or served as decorative accessories in mythological and allegorical contexts.
Impact
The sheet feels calm and harmonious thanks to the symmetrical arrangement and the evenly drawn lines. The individual poses of the putti bring lightness and liveliness to the dance without breaking the cohesion of the group.
Technique
For this engraving, Raimondi cut the lines into a copper plate and then printed from it. Clear lines and the detailed rendering of the figures characterize his style. The sheet remains in shades of gray, with no shading or color gradients.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)