17th Century – 18th Century, Angelic Figures

17th century – 18th century

Angelic figures

Carved wood, height: 102 and 104

This pair of carved wooden sculptures, dating from the late 17th to the early 18th century, represents an example of remarkable quality in late Baroque devotional sculpture. The figures, depicting angels captured in a dynamic moment of suspension, are characterized by an intense exploration of movement, evident in their contrapposto poses and the extraordinary rendering of the drapery. The classical-style robes appear billowed by a supernatural wind, creating complex interplay of volumes that enhance the sculptural quality of the bodies.

The formal quality of the carving is evident in the meticulous rendering of the faces and the hair framing them, revealing an exceptionally high level of attention to detail. The smooth, polished surface of the bodies—upon which evocative pools of light rest—is skillfully contrasted by the rippling drapery that only partially covers their limbs. Arranged in mirror-image poses, with their arms raised to hold the edges of the fabric in an almost theatrical gesture, the sculptures reveal a technical mastery capable of combining the solidity of wood with an extraordinary sense of ethereal lightness. The warm patina and deep undercuts bear witness to the hand of an expert sculptor, capable of fully interpreting the dramatic demands of the mature Baroque period.