Artwork
The Recording Angel
The Recording Angel is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master RG. It dates from 1542 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Recording Angel is a 1542 etching by Master RG, featuring a winged, robed figure engaged in writing, set against a minimal, suggestive background.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, likely an angel, is depicted in a contemplative pose, writing with a quill pen in a book on their lap, with gaze uplifted towards the heavens, implying a divine or recording function.
Technique & Style
The etching showcases meticulous detail, with intricate lines and textures that achieve a notable sense of depth and dimensionality, characteristic of the etching medium's capabilities.
History & Provenance
Created in 1542 by Master RG, specific provenance details are not provided in the available information.
Context
The work reflects the Renaissance interest in depicting angels in everyday, yet symbolic, tasks, and the use of etching as a popular medium for detailed, reproducible artworks during this period.
Legacy
The enduring appeal of The Recording Angel lies in its harmonious blend of religious symbolism and technical etching prowess, though its broader impact or influence on subsequent art movements is not explicitly detailed in the provided context.
Artist & collection
Poetry
Genius of the Sun (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #31)
Gloria
Design
Fame on a Trophy of Arms
Specimens of Polyautography: The Angel at the Tomb of Christ
Sibylla Europa
Dialectic
Saint John the Evangelist
Genius of Time (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #32)
Venus and Cupid
Sibylla Persica