Artwork
Angel with Harp
Angel with Harp is an unspecified painting by the Italo Byzantine artist Cristoforo Cortese. It dates from 1401 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it forms part of the Robert Lehman Collection.
The work Angel with Harp, painted by Cristoforo Cortese in 1401, depicts a celestial angel holding a harp, a traditional attribute that signifies divine music and the harmony of heaven in Christian iconography. The harp functions as a symbol of praise and the angelic voice that conveys divine revelation. As a religious painting, the composition aligns with devotional practices of the early fifteenth century, emphasizing the role of angels as messengers and musicians of God's praise.
The painting is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it forms part of the Robert Lehman Collection.
History & Provenance
The painting known as Angel with Harp was created by the artist Cristoforo Cortese in 1401. Classified as a religious work, it depicts an angel holding a harp. Formerly part of the collection owned by Robert Lehman, it is now held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art among the Robert Lehman holdings.
The physical dimensions of the painting are recorded as 6.1 cm in height by 4.5 cm in width, consistent with a small devotional image or manuscript cutting. The work's accession or inventory number is not specified in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented in the provided references.
Context
Created in 1401, Angel with Harp stands as an example of early fifteenth-century religious painting by Cristoforo Cortese. The work, held in the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a celestial figure playing a harp, reflecting the devotional art traditions of its era. While specific modern critical essays are not detailed in the available records, the piece's inclusion in a major institutional collection alongside its attribution to Cortese underscores its recognized value.
Its small dimensions and iconography place it within the broader context of Cortese's output during the transition from the International Gothic style, serving as a tangible artifact of early Renaissance devotional practices.
Overview
This painting by Cristoforo Cortese, created in 1401, presents a celestial figure engaged in music. Titled Angel with Harp, the work features a winged being holding the instrument, reflecting a common religious motif of the period. It is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering insight into early 15th-century Venetian artistry.
Technique & Style
Cortese employed gold leaf extensively, particularly for the angel's radiant robe and the delicate instrument, creating a luminous effect against the dark, patterned background. Intricate designs frame the composition, enhancing its sacred aura. The contrast between the shimmering gold and the deep tones, along with the precise rendering of the harp, highlights the figure's ethereal presence and the devotional focus of the piece.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cristoforo Cortese (active by the 1390s, died 1445) was the leading manuscript illuminator in Venice during the first half of the fifteenth century.
