This figure relief and the companion figure (934-1904) formed part of the monument of Bartolommeo Aragazzi (d.1429), poet, humanist and secretary to Pope martin V, in the Pieve at Montepulciano. When the church was demolished in 1617, the monument was disassembled and never reconstructed. The other portions which have survived are now preserved in the Cathedral at Montepulciano. The monument was commissioned by Aragazzi from the joint studio of Donatello and Michelozzo in or shortly before 1427 and was completed in 1438. All the surviving sculptures from the tomb are by Michelozzo. The face of this figure has been broken and restored in marble, and the tips of the forward wings of both Angels have also been made up or replaced. The two Angels may have been set above the effigy of Aragazzi, flanking a statue variously identified as the Risen Christ and St Bartholomew, or beside a Virgin and Child in the lunette. Insufficient evidence survives to allow an accurate reconstruction of the tomb design.
Physical description
Marble figure of an adoring angel. The figure of an adoring angel is represented with wings outstretched in three-quarter length facing to the left. The hands are crossed on the breast. The hair falls in long ringlets on the neck.
Place of Origin
Florence, Italy (made)
Date
ca. 1430-1438 (carved)
Artist/maker
di Bartolomeo, Michelozzo, born 1396 - died 1472 (sculptor)
Materials and Techniques
Carved marble
Dimensions
Height: 96 cm, Width: 97 cm, Depth: 32.2 cm, Weight: 184 kg
Object history note
One of a pair with 934-1904, formed part of the monument of Bartolomeo Aragazzi (d.1429), poet, humanist and secretary to Pope Martin V, in the Pieve at Montepulciano. When the church was demolished in 1617, the monument was disassembled and never reconstructed. The other portions which have survived are now preserved in the Cathedral at Montepulciano. The monument was commissioned by Aragazzi from the joint studio of Donatello and Michelozzo in or shortly before 1427 and was completed in 1438. All of the surviving sculptures from the tomb are by Michelozzo.
Descriptive line
Figure relief (one of a pair), marble, of an adoring angel, by Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, Italy (Florence), about 1430-38
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Inventory of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1903 - 1904. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1904, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1908, p. 157
Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, pp, 24, 25
Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume I: Text. Eighth to Fifteenth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 103
Lightbown, Ronald W. Donatello e Michelozzo: An Artistic Partnership and its Patrons in the Early Renaissance, London 1980, pp. 128-229, particularly pp. 198-99, 212-14, 222-23
Herzner, Volker. 'Review' of Lightbown's 'Donatello e Michelozzo: An Artistic Partnership and its Patrons in the Early Rennaissance', in: Zeitschrift für Kunstgeschichte, XLIV, 1981, pp. 300-13, esp. 308-12
Schulz, Anne Markham. The Sculpture of Bernardo Rossellino and his Workshop. Princeton 1977, pp. 23,99
Poeschke, Joachim. Die Skulptur der Renaissance in Italien, Band I. Donatello und seine Zeit, (Munich, 1990), p. 123, fig 43,44
Seymour Jr., Charles Sculpture in Italy 1400-1500 Pelican History of Art, Harmondsworth 1966. pp. 88, 234 note 19
Avery, Charles. Florentine Renaissance Sculpture. New York, 1970. pl. 52, p. 73
Labels and date
934A-1904
Adoring Angel
Marble
By Michelozzo di Bartolommeo (1396-1472)
Florentine; about 1430-38
This and the companion figure (934-1904) formed part of the monument of Bartolommeo Aragazzi (d.1429), poet, humanist and secretary to Pope martin V, in the Pieve at Montepulciano. When the church was demolished in 1617, the monument was disassembled and never reconstructed. The other portions which have survived are now preserved in the Cathedral at Montepulciano. The monument was commissioned by Aragazzi from the joint studio of Donatello and Michelozzo in or shortly before 1427 and was completed in 1438. All the surviving sculptures from the tomb are by Michelozzo. The face of this figure has been broken and restored in marble, and the tips of the forward wings of both Angels have also been made up or replaced. The two Angels may have been set above the effigy of Aragazzi, flanking a statue variously identified as the Risen Christ and St Bartholomew, or beside a Virgin and Child in the lunette. Insufficient evidence survives to allow an accurate reconstruction of the tomb design.
Materials
Marble
Techniques
Carving
Subjects depicted
Angels; Wings
Categories
Sculpture; Religion; Christianity
Collection code
SCP
