Lot 465: ATTRIBUTED TO GIUSEPPE SANMARTINO AND WORKSHOP 1715 - 1793

STANDING ANGELS

heights 16 1/2 in., 17 in.; 42 cm, 43.1 cm

two, terracotta

18th century

Heim Gallery, London

RELATED LITERATURE

Catello 1988

The present figures, with windswept hair, heavily-lidded, partially closed eyes and open mouths revealing the tongue or teeth, are comparable to the work of Giuseppe Sanmartino who lived and worked in Naples. Sanmartino produced monumental sculptures for a variety of churches including a seated marble angel in the Chiesa di S. Antonio in Maddaloni (Catello, op. cit., figs. 57-58) and a standing marble angel for the Chiesa dei Girolamini in Naples (Catello, op. cit., fig. 133) both of which exhibit very similar facial types to the present figures. Perhaps the closest comparisons, however, are small painted terracotta angels from groups of Tobias and the Angel (Catello, op. cit., figs. 163 and 193). The stance is the same as are the hand movements, inclined heads and facial features.

Sanmartino was well known for his prolific production of small, painted figures, particularly crib or crêche figures, with hyper-realistic details. The drapery on the present figures (the right hand angel, in particular) with multiple folds wrapping around the bodies, accentuates the slight tortion of the figures.