Guardian Angels; Catalonia, 19th century

Guardian Angels; Catalonia, 19th century
Carved, gilded, and polychromed wood
The polychrome paint shows signs of wear and loss
Measurements: 61 x 22 x 15 cm.

Set of three guardian angel figures, standing on octagonal pedestals, depicted with their hands clasped in a prayerful pose, dressed in long robes in shades of green, mauve, and turquoise, respectively. The wings are decorated with feathers, with the colors of the robes serving as hallmarks.

The style of these guardian angels directly reflects the religious sculpture tradition of Olot, a Catalan center that, since the mid-19th century, became one of Spain’s most important centers for the production of religious imagery, with workshops specializing in the mass production of saints, Virgins, and angels in wood and other materials for the devotional market. The very compositional scheme of the guardian angel was one of the most frequently reproduced models by these workshops, intended both for private devotion and for the decoration of religious spaces.