\qj The Vault of the Sistine Chapel is inhabited not only by many characters of the \b \cf4 \ATXht70203 Scripture\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 and biblical scenes, but also by a line of ornamental figures that are either children or youths. Children,
\i putti\i0 , appear in two different "functions": they are either "plaque holders" or "caryatids." \par
The plaque holders are obviously the ones placed by \b \cf4 \ATXht5 Michelangelo\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 under each prophet (excluding \b \i \cf4 \ATXht1076 Jonah\b0 \i0 \cf0 \ATXht0 and \b \i \cf4 \ATXht1070 Zechariah\b0 \i0 \cf0 \ATXht0 ) to hold the "plaque" with the name of the prophet that is above.\par
These are either portraits, nudes or partially clothed figures, and in some cases they have been ma
de with the same design but upside down (as in the case of the ones under the \b \i \cf4 \ATXht1073 Sibyl Cumaean\b0 \i0 \cf0 \ATXht0 and the one under \b \i \cf4 \ATXht1067 Ezechiel\b0 \i0 \cf0 \ATXht0 ). \par
The cariatide \i putti\i0 have been plac
ed always with this system of putting the drawing upside down. \par
They were put in couples and placed on the side of the Prophets, painted as if in marble because they are a decoration of the seat on which the Venerable old men are seated. They are al
ways a male and female and have many behaviors and poses.\par