Three putti before a large garland, the one in the middle rides an ostrich, from a series of tapestries made for Leo X

Art Historical Context

Delight in the whimsical charm of *Three Putti before a Large Garland, the One in the Middle R an Ostrich*, an exquisite engraving from around 1530–40, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints department. This-state print, measuring 8¼ × 11 inches, captures three playful putti—cherubic childlike figures—frolicking before an opulent garland, with central one astride a fanciful ostrich. Birds lush garlands frame the scene, evoking the joyous decorative motifs of Renaissance art. Designed in the orbit of Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino), the High Renaissance master, this work reproduces elements from a series of tapestries commissioned for Pope Leo X around 1515. Raphael oversaw the cartoons, while collaborators like Giovanni da Udine, a specialist in intricate grotesques and garlands, contributed to the borders. Engraved by the Master of the Die, it exemplifies the era's reproductive printmaking, spreading Raphael's elegant compositions to a wider audience beyond elite papal commissions. As a testament to 16th-century artistic collaboration, this print highlights engraving's precision in translating tapestry designs into portable, detailed images. Its lively putti and exotic ostrich add a touch of humor, blending classical mythology with Renaissance exuberance—perfect for imagining the Vatican's lavish halls alive with such splendor.