Four Sketches of Putti Hanging Coat of Arms 1702 - 1786

Carlo Marchionni made these four sketches of putti hanging coats of arms, in pen and brown ink with gray wash, as preliminary ideas for a larger project. These drawings are visual codes of power, status, and lineage in 18th century Italy. The images evoke the grand tradition of heraldry, where family emblems became potent symbols of authority. Each sketch presents variations on how a coat of arms might be displayed, often attended by putti – those chubby cherubs, symbolizing innocence and divine favor, who were frequently commissioned by institutions such as the Catholic Church. The inclusion of animals such as lions and dogs may be a reference to family names or traits such as nobility, courage, and loyalty. To truly grasp the importance of such imagery, we might delve into period documents, such as family records and institutional archives. These could help us unpack the social dynamics at play. Ultimately, the power of art lies not only in its aesthetic qualities but in the web of social and institutional relations it reflects and reinforces.