Five Putti with Books c. 1543

Bernardino Gatti created this drawing called ‘Five Putti with Books’ sometime between 1495 and 1575. Bernardino Gatti was working in Italy during the High Renaissance, a period marked by renewed interest in classical antiquity alongside emerging humanist philosophies. In this sepia drawing, Gatti renders five plump, winged putti, or cherubic boys, playfully engaging with books. As symbols of divine love, putti were common in Renaissance art, yet Gatti uniquely positions them here as emblems of knowledge. The putti, with their soft, rounded bodies, are at once innocent and sensuous, reflecting the era's complex negotiation of religious devotion and earthly delight. By depicting these figures immersed in books, Gatti underscores the Renaissance emphasis on education and classical learning, but also hints at how even sacred knowledge is mediated, interpreted, and made playful through human engagement. The drawing feels optimistic, as Gatti suggests the opening of new intellectual and cultural possibilities, while embracing the sensuality of the human form.