Two Angels and Cherubs Bearing an Icon of Christ
Paolo Naldini (Italian, 1616–1691)
c. 1670–80
Medium
terracotta
Dimensions
41.9 × 41.9 × 15.3 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Sundry Purchase Fund
Accession Number
1971.230
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
male
About this artwork
This work is probably a study for a large altarpiece that would have combined several materials, including marble, stucco, and paint. The artist modeled his design in soft clay, which was then hardened by firing; subtle tints suggest the richness of the finished work. The idea of using sculptural figures to support a painted image within an altarpiece was influenced by the work of the Roman sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680), with whom Naldini is known to have worked.