Angel 1760

Johann Georg Pinzel carved this limewood Angel sometime in the mid-18th century. The wood's relative softness allowed him to create a dynamic figure, caught in a moment of divine energy. Pinzel used chisels and gouges to aggressively shape the wood, leaving a choppy surface that catches the light, especially under the gilding. This wasn't just about decoration; the gold leaf would have been painstakingly applied, acting as a visual stand-in for heavenly radiance. The dynamism and emotional intensity apparent in this work place it within the late Baroque aesthetic, however the sculptor's direct carving method and his way of working the wooden material to its expressive and structural limits distinguishes Pinzel's highly individual artistic vision. By considering the angel's making – the skill and labor involved in carving and gilding – we can appreciate Pinzel's work not just as a religious icon, but as a testament to human ingenuity and the enduring power of craft.