Rome, 17th Century, Couple Of Angels

Rome, 17th century

Couple of angels

Golden wood, cm alt 91 - 92

Base, cm 25 x 40

The pair of putti under consideration is a masterpiece of the Roman baroque period, a period of opulence and opulence where the wealthiest citizens were interested in enriching with precious decorations, palaces, salons and private chapels.

The two lovingly carved putti rest, the first a knee the second a foot, on a finely carved piece of wood. Their limbs are fleshy and abundant and the movements are exaggerated played on the theatricality and dynamism typical of the baroque: the first leaning on a knee looks straight to himself while with a sharp twist of the torso he carries an arm pointing towards his right; In the second, the face is directed to the opposite position of the arm while the torso remains fixed.

Comparisons can be traced with some sculptures of some of the most important plasticizers of seventeenth century Rome including Antonio Raggi (Vico Morcote, 1624 - Rome, 1686) - whose closeness with sacred love and profano love delos Palazzo dei Musei (Modena), where clearly we find the reference to chubby faces and curly hair - or in the putti made for the Monument funerary to Giulio Del Corno in the Church of Jesus and Mary and in the Chigi Chapel in Santa Maria della Pace da Ercole Ferrata (Pellio Intelvi, 1610 - Roma 1686) and in the work of Melchiorre Cafà (Vittoriosa, 1636 - Rome, 1667), the Apotheosis of Saint Catherine for the Church of Santa Caterina from Siena to Magnanapoli.