Artwork
Pinnacle with Angel (pair)
Pinnacle with Angel (pair) is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Niccolò di Segna. It dates from 1340 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The pair of painted pinnacles depicts two angels, each rendered with meticulous attention to facial expression and hand positioning.
About this work
Overview
The pair of painted pinnacles depicts two angels, each rendered with meticulous attention to facial expression and hand positioning. They were originally affixed to the uppermost part of a now‑missing multi‑panel altarpiece, serving as decorative elements that framed a central religious scene. Today the two panels are preserved as separate works in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
Both figures are portrayed as celestial messengers, their gestures and gazes directed outward as if addressing a focal point that once lay between them. The composition suggests a role of intercession, guiding the viewer’s attention toward the central image of the altarpiece that has not survived.
Technique & Style
The artist employed a delicate modeling of light and shadow, achieving a soft transition between tones that recalls the sfumato technique popular among Italian painters of the period. Fine brushwork renders the angels’ features and drapery with subtle gradations, creating a gentle, atmospheric presence.
History & Provenance
The pinnacles were created as integral components of a larger devotional ensemble, likely commissioned for a church altar. After the dismantling of the original altarpiece, the two panels entered the art market and were eventually acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where they remain on display.
Context
Such ornamental pinnacles were common in late medieval and early Renaissance altarpieces, serving both decorative and theological functions. Positioned on either side of a central panel, they would have framed the narrative scene, enhancing the visual hierarchy and reinforcing the sacred atmosphere of the altar setting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Niccolò di Segna (died around 1348) was an Italian painter from Siena. His activity is documented starting from 1331. Influenced by Duccio di Buoninsegna and Simone Martini, he was an exponent of the Sienese School. He…
Crucifixion with the Virgin and St John![Madonna and Child with the Blessing Christ, and Saints Mary Magdalene and Catherine of Alexandria with Angels [entire triptych], by Pietro Lorenzetti](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/pietro-lorenzetti--madonna-and-child-with-the-blessing-christ-and-saints-mary-m--f78e415f61769b64-w320.webp)
Madonna and Child with the Blessing Christ, and Saints Mary Magdalene and Catherine of Alexandria with Angels [entire triptych]
The Annunciation
Archangel
Angel
The Virgin and Child, with St John the Evangelist and St Catherine of Alexandria
St. Benedict - The Annunciation - A Kneeling Nun
Virgin and Child, with Saints Mary Magdalene, James Major, Stephen, and a Bishop Saint
Virgin and Child with Saints Francis, Andrew, Paul, Peter, Stephen, and Louis of Toulouse