Angel 18th century

Giuseppe Sanmartino crafted this Angel from terracotta, wood, and linen sometime in the 18th century. The sculpture's delicate face and flowing drapery are achieved through painstaking carving and modeling, demonstrating the artist's skill in manipulating these materials. Notice how the linen is draped and shaped to create realistic folds, while the terracotta is finely detailed to capture the angel's serene expression. These are not industrial materials. They are time-honored, but they speak to the social context of the time, where skilled artisans played a vital role in creating devotional objects for both religious institutions and private patrons. The angel’s creation involved skilled labor and a deep understanding of materials and techniques, highlighting the value placed on craftsmanship during the 1700s. The artist would have been a master craftsman overseeing the work of journeymen and apprentices. Ultimately, the sculpture challenges distinctions between high art and craft, celebrating the beauty and skill embedded in its creation.