Putto Riding a Dolphin (Inkwell?)

Small bronze sculptures were intended to be held in the hands of connoisseurs – for them to enjoy feeling their smooth surface and to study even the smallest details. Unlike the viewer’s ritualized interaction with religious artworks characteristic of the Middle Ages, here the focus is on the artist’s invention and creation: This marks the beginning of modern art appreciation. Moreover, these easily copied bronzes were also within the reach of less affluent collectors.