Four Provencal torchiere angels, 17th century.

Four Provencal torchiere angels, XVII century.
Carved and polychrome wood.
Measurements: between 62 cm and 65 cm (height).

With a language that evokes the richness of its time, we present this exceptional set of four torchiere angels, magnificent exponents of the Provençal baroque sculpture of the 17th century. Made of carved, stewed and polychrome wood, these figures of celestial bearing, with their 62 cm width and 65 cm height, are an exceptional example of Provençal baroque sculpture.

This lot consists of four excellent sculptural carvings: torchiere angels that are eloquent testimony of the mastery and artistic sensitivity of the workshops of Provence during the Baroque period.

Each of them stands with a dynamic elegance and a studied pose that denotes the influence of the full Baroque. Their figures, their anatomy delicately suggested under their voluminous robes, exhibit a subtle contrapposto, which gives them a natural grace and avoids hieratic rigidity. The drapery, treated with remarkable skill, swirls in bold and voluminous folds, giving the sculptures an ascending rhythm and a restrained theatricality. The stewing technique, visible in the vestments, reveals under the pictorial layer the brilliance of the underlying gold, creating an effect of sumptuousness and richness that captures and reflects the light, a quintessential Baroque aesthetic resource for evoking divine glory.

The wings, of imposing wingspan and detailed plumage, unfold with vigor, framing the figures and accentuating their status as celestial messengers. They hold candlesticks in their hands, destined to carry the lights that would illuminate, in all probability, an altar or a processional step, symbolizing the light of faith in the midst of darkness.

The faces, of a classic serenity, are characterized by their fine features and a soft treatment in the modeling of the features, with golden curls of hair waving gracefully.

The figures rest on profusely ornamented architectural bases. Two of them present a design of rocaille and volutes flanking a central shield, while the other two incorporate the singularity of a cherub's head at the base, an iconographic detail that reinforces the angelic nature of the ensemble.