Artwork
An angel
An angel is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Fratelli Alinari. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The image is a sepia-toned photographic reproduction made in 1854 by the Italian studio Fratelli Alinari. It records a pen-and-ink drawing that portrays a winged figure in motion, rendered as an angelic being. The photograph serves as a historical document of a preparatory study rather than a polished finished illustration.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing presents a figure with outstretched wings and flowing drapery, captured mid‑flight while grasping a circular object in one hand. Bare feet and the dynamic posture suggest a sense of ascent or divine activity, aligning the subject with traditional iconography of angels as messengers or carriers of celestial objects.
Technique & Style
Executed with rapid, loose strokes, the sketch emphasizes gesture over detail. The lines convey movement, and the shading is soft, giving the drapery a fluid quality. The hurried quality of the drawing indicates it functioned as a study, focusing on the anatomy of flight and the interplay of light and fabric.
History & Provenance
The photograph originates from the extensive archive of Fratelli Alinari, a pioneering photographic firm founded in Florence in the mid‑19th century.
The photograph originates from the extensive archive of Fratelli Alinari, a pioneering photographic firm founded in Florence in the mid‑19th century. Their practice of documenting artworks provided a visual record of contemporary drawings and studies. The image has been preserved in museum collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, which holds similar preparatory works from the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Fratelli Alinari made early photographs in the 1850s, staging classical figures and nude studies in their studio.
