Putti with the coat of arms of the Rospigliosi family, with cardinal’s hat, crowns and Maltese crosses in a garland of flowers

About the Work

Winged Cupids frolic in the heavens with dance-like ease. Along with the rhombi, the symbols they hold—an oversize cardinal’s hat, crowns, and an eight-pointed Maltese cross—together point to Felice Rospigliosi, a member of a prominent family of the Roman aristocracy. The drawing was presumably intended as a design for a wall or ceiling painting. One indication that it was carried out by Troppa is the inscription at the lower left, which is found on many of the artist’s drawings.