A putto with his arms around an eagle, 1868,0808.3180

A muscular young child is shown in a dynamic embrace with a large eagle, grasping the bird around its neck and wing. The eagle's head is cocked back with an open beak, and its feathers are rendered with detailed hatching that conveys texture and movement. This sketch focuses on the physical interaction between the two figures, using soft red tones to define the contours of the child's body.

This motif represents the Neoplatonic theme of the soul's 'divine frenzy' and its ascent to the celestial realm, often symbolized by Ganymede being carried by Jupiter's eagle. In Renaissance thought, the eagle was seen as the Divine Intellect or Jupiter himself, lifting the human soul toward spiritual contemplation.