Spanish Colonial Sculpture of an Angel

Sculpture

-

Frances M. Maguire Art Museum

Name/Title

Spanish Colonial Sculpture of an Angel

Entry/Object ID

2014.18.2

Description

Spanish Colonial Sculpture of an Angel From the beginning of the conquest and evangelization of Spanish America, missionaries established workshops to create Roman Catholic sculptures to facilitate devotion. Angels were believed to see and praise God in his divine presence. They also were viewed as messengers of God and guardians to the faithful. These expressive angels are carved out of wood, polychromed (painted in layers of gesso and pigment), and gilded. They are informed by a tradition in Spain dating back to the 16th c. of creating highly naturalistic painted wooden sculptures with Christian themes. Desde el inicio de la conquista y la evangelización de Hispanoamérica, los misioneros fundaron talleres para producir esculturas católico-romanas que fomentaran la devoción. Se creía que los ángeles podían alabar y ver la divina presencia de Dios. También eran vistos como mensajeros del Dios y guardianes de los creyentes. Estos ángeles llenos de expresividad son tallas de madera dorada y policromada (pintura en capas de yeso y pigmentos). A su vez son continuadores de una tradición ibérica que data del siglo XVI y que consistía en producir esculturas de madera pintada de gran naturalismo y sobre temas cristianos.

Artwork Details

Medium

Polychromed and Gilt

Made/Created

Time Period

18th Century, 19th Century

Dimensions

Height

45-1/2 in

Width

23-1/2 in

Depth

18-1/2 in