Pinnacle Showing an Archangel by Duccio in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, August 2009

European Painting before 1900, Johnson Collection

Angel

Probably a pinnacle from Duccio's Maestà, from the Cathedral of Siena; cut and rounded at the top; companion pinnacles in collection of J. H. van Heek, 's Heerenberg; Mount Holyoke College Art Museum (P.PI.45.1965); private collection

By 1311

Workshop of Duccio (Duccio di Buoninsegna), Italian (active Siena), first documented 1278, died 1318

Tempera and tooled gold on panel with vertical grain
9 1/2 x 6 11/16 inches (24.1 x 17 cm)

Currently not on view

Cat. 88
John G. Johnson Collection, 1917


Label:

The wand in the angel's hand identifies him as an archangel. With these wands the archangels expelled Satan from heaven, thereby securing their privileged position as messengers of God.

This panel comes from the pinnacle, or top section, of Duccio's large altarpiece known as the Maestà, which he made for the cathedral of Siena. Maestà is an Italian term for a depiction of the Virgin in a heavenly court. The altarpiece was disassembled in 1771.


Text from: www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/102710.html