Angel [one of a pair]
Sorry, no image available.
- Place made
- Florence, Italy
- Medium
- marble
- Dimensions
- 83.0 x 32.0 x 18.0 cm (sight irreg)
- Credit line
- Morgan Thomas Bequest Fund 1950
- Accession number
- S77
- Signature and date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Provenance
- possibly Pazzi Chapel Santa Croce, acquired by HD Molesworth on behalf of the Gallery from The Arcade Gallery, London 1950
- Media category
- Sculpture
- Collection area
- European sculptures
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WALL LABEL: Angels [one of a pair] c.1480s
This pair of carved marble angels was acquired for the Gallery in 1950 by H.D. Molesworth, a keeper (now known as a curator) at the Victoria and Albert Museum, who was acting as an agent for AGSA in London. Very little is known about the history of these works prior to their purchase in 1950, although the vendor suggested they originated from the Pazzi Chapel in Florence. With their delicate carving and the particular attention paid to the faces of the angels, these sculptures espouse many of the artistic virtues of the Italian Renaissance. They are not simply representations of generic figures but are also lifelike depictions of real faces.
In preparation for this exhibition, these angels have undergone significant conservation treatment, including delicate steam cleaning, using poultices to reduce ferrous staining, and repair of an old break.
Tansy Curtin, Curator of International Art Pre-1980
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Reimagining the Renaissance
Art Gallery of South Australia, 20 July 2024 – 13 April 2025