Angel 1750 - 1799

Giuseppe Sanmartino's Angel, now at the Metropolitan Museum, presents a vision suspended between the divine and the human, achieved through a masterful blend of materials and textures. Notice how the contrasting textures—from the smoothness of the angel's skin to the sheen of the fabrics and the rough texture of the wings—invite a multi-sensory experience. Sanmartino uses the language of sculpture to create an ethereal being. The angel's form defies gravity, seemingly floating, which is reinforced by the dynamic composition of flowing drapery and outstretched wings. This work reflects the Baroque period’s interest in movement and emotion, using the interplay of light and shadow to enhance the angel’s presence. The very structure of the sculpture, with its careful attention to detail and dynamic lines, invites us to consider the boundaries between the earthly and the celestial. It challenges our perceptions of form and space. Through the angel’s delicate features and flowing garments, Sanmartino captures a sense of spiritual grace, reminding us that art can transcend the material world.