The artwork “Putto and a Small Dog – back side of the Berlin Tondo” is attributed to the Italian painter Masaccio and was created around 1427-1428. This piece is an embodiment of the Early Renaissance, a period marked by a revival of interest in the classical art and philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome. As a genre painting, it depicts scenes from everyday life, imbued with a sense of naturalism, and often includes figures known as putti, which are chubby male children, sometimes depicted with wings.
Upon examining the artwork, one can observe a circular, tondo format, which was a popular choice during the Renaissance for both domestic and religious art. The painting is in somewhat poor condition, with visible damage and wear, including cracks and areas where the original paint has been lost, exposing the underlying ground layer. Despite the deterioration, the viewer can discern a semi-nude putto—it lacks wings, as is common with many depictions of putti—seated on a grassy terrain and engaging in an activity with a vessel of some sort. The figure is rendered with a soft, fleshy quality that gives it a tender and lifelike appearance, capturing the innocence and curiosity typical of early childhood.
The background features dark, open space that contrasts with the lighter foreground where the small dog, although challenging to recognize due to the artwork’s condition, might have been represented. The surrounding flora is depicted with care, adding to the artwork’s natural setting. While it is clear that the artwork has suffered from age and elements, the remaining details still allow appreciation of Masaccio’s skill in capturing realism and emotion during the pivotal early stages of the Renaissance.
