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Unidentified Artist (German, active mid-1700s)
Adoring Angel, about 1735-60
Wood, polychrome, and gold leaf, 41 1/4 x 31 in. (104.7 x 78.7 cm.)
Gift of the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, 62.18
An adoring angel of the type seen here was often paired with a contemplative angel when flanking church tabernacles. These pairs were very popular in Germany and Austria during the Rococo period in the eighteenth century, and the decorative quality found in this work identifies it as coming from that stylistic era. The deeply cut folds, windswept hair, and turn to the body not only offer evidence of a sculptor of great ability, but they combine to give a sense of movement to the figure. This quality stand s in contrast to the calm expression found in the angel's face. Based on comparisons with other works of this type, it appears that the Adoring Angel was carved by a sculptor active in the south German region of Bavaria.
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