Baroque angel sculpture; Italy, 1680-1720.

Baroque angel sculpture; Italy, 1680-1720.
Partially polychrome marble.
It presents slight losses of some fingers and restorations.
Measurements: 21 x 51 x 20 cm.
The work is fully inscribed in the late Italian Baroque, a period characterized by the search for dynamism, emotional expressiveness and a direct relationship with the viewer. In contrast to the classical balance of the Renaissance, the Baroque introduces open compositions, moving bodies and a clear narrative and devotional intention.
The angel is represented in a dynamic and corporeally complex attitude, with the torso turned and the limbs foreshortened, a typical resource of the Baroque language that breaks with frontality and reinforces the sensation of continuous movement. The anatomy is fleshy and naturalistic, with a sensitive treatment of volume, especially visible in the abdomen, the folds of the cloth and the infantile musculature, common features in the iconography of baroque angels and putti.
This type of sculpture was usually found in churches, chapels or altarpieces, integrated into larger iconographic programs. Because of its size and horizontal arrangement, it is likely that the piece was part of a decorative or architectural ensemble, conceived to be seen from various angles and in dialogue with the liturgical space.