Two Putti Trying To Stop a Monkey Abducting a Child from a set of the Giochi di Putti 1630 - 1640

This tapestry, "Two Putti Trying To Stop a Monkey Abducting a Child", was made in the 1500s, and is attributed to Giovanni da Udine. It is woven from wool and silk, not the typical materials associated with Renaissance painting, but perfectly suited to the lavish decoration of a wealthy household. Consider the labor involved in creating this vibrant scene. The tapestry's dense weave, with every colour carefully placed, embodies countless hours of skilled work. The weavers would have translated da Udine’s design into a textile, using a complex loom to interlace the colored threads. The visual richness of the tapestry depends upon the inherent qualities of the materials—the soft sheen of silk, the subtle texture of wool, and the way that dyes saturate each fiber. The "Giochi di Putti", of which this piece is a part, shows the taste for elaborate allegories during this period, and also raises questions about class and consumption. Tapestries like this were status symbols, demonstrating the owner's wealth and sophistication. In appreciating this work, we are prompted to consider the social context of its creation, challenging any firm distinction between art and craft.