Cupids Pulling in a Net

Polidoro da Caravaggio painted these Cupids Pulling in a Net around 1527, a secular mythological subject depicting putti or amors engaged in the fishing activity that provided both playful imagery and classical antecedents in ancient art. Such playful putto compositions derived from the abundant imagery of putti in ancient sculpture and painting that decorated the Roman collections Polidoro studied and restored while working as Raphael's assistant on the Vatican Logge. The pulling-net motif—a cooperative physical activity that allowed the depiction of putti in energetic movement—was one of several such putto activity themes that Polidoro developed for the secular decoration market. His confident classical figure construction and the graceful physicality of the putti's movement reflect his formation in one of the period's most demanding workshops.

The frieze-like composition with its classical putti reflects Polidoro's deep study of ancient Roman decorative arts. The graceful, rhythmic movement of the figures demonstrates his gift for ornamental design.