Gloria in Excelsis Deo 1973

Frank Mason made this painting titled Gloria in Excelsis Deo with oil on canvas but we don’t know exactly when. I really like how the paint handling here is both controlled and loose. The figures are modeled with soft, hazy edges, but then there are these sharp, angular strokes that define the wings of the angel. It's a great contrast. Look closely, and you can see how Mason builds up the forms with layers of thin, translucent glazes, especially in the flesh tones. It gives the painting a luminous quality, like light is radiating from within. There is a sense of otherworldly splendor that permeates everything. The way the angel's wings are rendered feels very gestural, like Mason was trying to capture the energy and movement of flight. I’m reminded of Gericault, of course, but there’s a raw, untamed quality here that feels very contemporary. It’s like the painting is caught between tradition and something new, like the in-between states that I love.