Kneeling angel thumbnail 1
Kneeling angel thumbnail 2
+5
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 50b, The Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery

This object consists of 3 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Kneeling angel

Figure
ca.1525-1542 (carved)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The positions of the arms and hands indicate that this and the companion angel originally functioned as candleholders on either side of an altar. Candles were used during the Mass to illuminate the altar and evoke the symbolism of Christ as light.

They were purchased from the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence and probably originated from a church under the patronage of the Strozzi family, who were powerful bankers.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Statue
  • Candelabrum
  • Candelabrum
TitleKneeling angel
Materials and techniques
carved marble
Brief description
Kneeling angel, sculpted in white marble, supporting a candelabrum of carved and painted wood, by Silvio Cosini, Italy (Florence), second quarter of the sixteenth century
Physical description
Kneeling angel, sculpted in white marble, supporting a candelabrum of carved and painted wood.
Dimensions
  • Height: 96.5cm
  • Width: 37cm
  • Depth: 55cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Summary
The positions of the arms and hands indicate that this and the companion angel originally functioned as candleholders on either side of an altar. Candles were used during the Mass to illuminate the altar and evoke the symbolism of Christ as light.

They were purchased from the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence and probably originated from a church under the patronage of the Strozzi family, who were powerful bankers.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1882. London, 1883, pp.10
  • MacLagan, E, and Longhurst, Margaret, H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. London, V&A, 1932, pp.136
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1964, pp.447
  • Gamba. 'Silvio Cosini', Dedalo. X, 1929, pp. 232, 239
  • Bacci. 'Gli 'angeli' di Silvio Cosini nel Duomo di Pisa', Bollettino d'arte. xi, 1917, pp. 111-32
Collection
Accession number
89:1, 2-1882

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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