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
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.