An angel playing the lute

Attribution:

Key Dates

1480

This was originally part of a fresco in the Church of the SS Apostoli in Rome, which was destroyed in 1711. It was painted around 1480, shortly after the works of restoration on the church for cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, the future Pope Julius II (pontiff from 1503 to 1513).

Key People

The painting is by Melozzo da Forlì, an Italian Renaissance painter, the first who practised foreshortening with much success and one of the most outstanding fresco painters of the 15th century.

The 14 fragments with the Apostles and Angel musicians (these are also exhibited in room IV) together with the figure of Christ (in the Quirinal Palace) were all part of the old decoration of the apse of the Church of the SS Apostoli in Rome, illustrating the Ascension of Christ. The solemn, monumental figures, strongly foreshortened, testify to the full maturity of the great artist, a follower of Piero della Francesca, and his skill with perspective.

Origin & Collection

Additional information on display location:

Pinacoteca, Room IV

Reference Number:

40269.14.10

Physical properties

Width:

93.50cm

Height:

117.00cm

Images

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