Rome, 17th century, Pair of angels

Rome, 17th century Pair of angels Gilded wood, height 91 – 92 cm Base, 25 x 40 cm The pair of putti under examination is a masterpiece of the Roman Baroque period, a time of pomp and opulence when the wealthiest citizens were interested in enriching palaces, living rooms and private chapels with precious decorations. The two amiably carved putti rest, the first on a knee, the second on a foot, on a finely carved piece of wood. Their limbs are fleshy and abundant, and the movements are exaggerated, played out on the theatricality and dynamism typical of the Baroque: the first, resting on one knee, looks straight ahead while with a sharp twist of the bust brings an arm pointing towards his right; in the second, the face is directed in the opposite position to that of the arm while the bust remains fixed. Comparisons can be traced with some sculptures of some of the most important sculptors of 17th century Rome including Antonio Raggi (Vico Morcote, 1624 – Rome, 1686) – of which we see similarities with Sacred Love and Profane Love of the Palazzo dei Musei (Modena), where we clearly find the recall to chubby faces and curly hair – or even in the putti made for the Funeral Monument to Giulio Del Corno in the Church of Gesù e Maria and in the Chigi Chapel in Santa Maria della Pace by Ercole Ferrata (Pellio Intelvi, 1610 – Rome 1686) and in the work of Melchiorre Cafà (Vittoriosa, 1636 – Rome, 1667), the Apotheosis of Saint Catherine for the Church of Santa Caterina da Siena in Magnanapoli.