Putti Playing with Swans

Putti Playing with Swans is a delicate High Renaissance drawing executed circa 1503-1520, attributed to the Circle of Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael Italian, 1483-1520. Originating from Italy, this work reflects the period's profound fascination with classical mythology and the putto figure, a recurring motif often found in the master's major commissions.

The piece is classified as a drawing, demonstrating sophisticated draftsmanship achieved through black chalk combined with brush and gray wash, applied to tan laid paper. The artist carefully layered the media before the sheet was mounted onto ivory laid paper. This technical approach allowed the workshop member, working under the direct influence of Raphael, to achieve subtle volumetric modeling and atmospheric depth, defining the figures interacting harmoniously with swans, which are classically associated with Venus.

Drawings like this one were crucial working documents within the early 16th-century Roman studio environment, used for study, refinement of compositions, or as preparatory sketches for frescoes and other large-scale works. Although not definitively attributed to Sanzio himself, the compositional grace and idealization present in Putti Playing with Swans firmly place it within the sphere of the master's highly influential workshop. The Art Institute of Chicago proudly preserves this historic Italian drawing within its renowned collection. As this image is now widely regarded as being in the public domain, high-quality prints and reproductions continue to make this elegant example of High Renaissance draftsmanship accessible globally.