Creator Biography
Creator Unknown, French.
Preview
Creation Date
16th century
Medium
Stone sculpture
Dimensions
19 x 11.5
Credit Line
Purchase by the Department of Art History
Accession Number
2015.184
Provenance
Certificate of authenticity, purchase invoice available.
Description
Late 16th-century stone carving of an angel holding a chalice, from Brittany, Finistère, diocese of Léon. In this small area of Brittany the churches have parish closes, which are churchyards surrounded completely by a wall with a ceremonial entrance arch. They were built in the 16th and early 17th centuries at a time when the area had grown wealthy both from the hemp industry and trading over the Chanel. THe closes often contained an elaborate calvary, charnel house, and belfry. The most notable of these churches is the one at Guimiliau, which has an entire Passion cycle in stone. This angel is probably a niche figure from the main entrance arch of one of the churches near Guimiliau.
Alternative view