Angel of the Annunciation

Venetian 14th Century

National Gallery of Art

A freestanding, winged angel with a halo is carved from white marble streaked with gray. In this view, the angel’s body faces us, and the head turns slightly to our left. Curls frame a round face with delicate features in front of a flat, plate-like halo. The angel’s long robe is pinned at the chest, tied around the waist, and falls in thick folds into puddles around the feet. The angel holds one hand up with the first two fingers raised and holds a scroll down by the hip with the other hand. One pointed shoe peeks from under the robe, which almost covers the round base on which the angel stands. The sculpture is photographed against a pale gray background.