Head of an Angel

Originally, the angel whose head survives here as a fragment was probably positioned in some architectural context, and could have decorated a console. The soft facial modelling and the delicate structural working with a toothed chisel give the features a highly individualized, sensuous presence. The abundant hair over the forehead and by the ears and temples likewise seems tactile and vivid. The curve of the eyes and the wavy locks lend this chubby-cheeked face an elegant, courtly air. The small head was a product of the courtly arts under Charles V and Charles VI of France, an era from 1364 to 1422 that witnessed brilliant achievements across the entire spectrum of the arts. Similar angel heads were made by sculptors working for Jean, Duc de Berry in Bourges.