17th century Flemish school

Flemish school of the 17th century.
"Guardian Angel".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Measurements: 66 x 85 cm; 84 x 107 cm (frame).

Devotional scene in which we can appreciate a small infant guided by an angel who rests his hand on the child and with the other one points out the good way, which in this case is the sky, in allusion to God. The angel's face stands out for its features of soft and fine lines that make up a delicate and idealized face framed by a hair of golden and coppery tones that sits on his shoulders. In the case of the child, this shows a more realistic or naturalistic appearance, not because of the features of the face, but because of the clothing. In Christianity, the guardian angel or guardian would be the one that God has appointed to each person to protect him. Hence, he is usually represented as a guide for life understood as a path, as is the case here. The fact that the sculptor has represented the faithful with the figure of a child emphasizes even more this protective role that the guardian angel fulfills with respect to the defenseless Christian soul.
One of the distinctive features of this school is the detailed precision of the drawing, ideal for small formats and extreme detail. In addition, the mastery of chiaroscuro and chromatic richness provided a sense of volume and depth, reinforced by the precision in the application of light.
This tradition, influenced by masters such as Rubens, Van Dyck and the Brueghel brothers, combined religious elements with an emotional expressiveness and a narrative sense that sought to move the viewer. The present work reflects this approach, presenting not only a devotional image, but also a carefully structured composition, where the Flemish technique highlights the quality of the materials and the sensitivity in the representation of the divine.