Artwork

The Seven Archangels (recto); Studies of an Archangel and a Wind God (verso)

The Seven Archangels (recto); Studies of an Archangel and a Wind God (verso) is a drawing by the Baroque artist Massimo Stanzione. It dates from 1624 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This drawing by Massimo Stanzione depicts the Seven Archangels on one side and studies of an archangel and a wind god on the other. It is a preparatory work for a larger painting.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing shows seven angels in a row, characterized by calm, similar facial expressions. The iconography of the seven archangels was significant in the Neapolitan kingdom and Spain, where they were objects of devotion.

Technique & Style

Stanzione's style is distinct from the dramatic and naturalistic tendencies of his Neapolitan contemporaries. His work is marked by softer lines and a more classical approach, contrasting with the intense chiaroscuro prevalent in 17th-century Neapolitan art.

History & Provenance

The drawing is related to a painting by Stanzione at the Monasterio de la Descalzas Reales in Madrid. The cult of the Seven Angelic Princes was promoted by Antonio Del Duca, a 16th-century Sicilian friar.

Artist & collection

Artist

Massimo Stanzione

Massimo Stanzione (also called Stanzioni; Frattamaggiore 1585 – Naples 1656) was an Italian Baroque painter, mainly active in Naples, where he and his rival Jusepe de Ribera dominated the painting scene for several decades.