It is well documented how da Vinci loved to hide elements and symbols in his works - as hidden treasures for future discovery. It is one of the ways investigators evaluate if a work is truly by him.

On examination of the putti which surround the chalice, it can reasonably be assumed that, although the the majority are likely to have been fashioned in the manner of Verocchio and the work studio, this particular putto seems to exclusively portray characteristics attributable to daVinci in style, representation and historical basis.