Description
This angel once belonged to the upper crowning elements of Duccio’s Maestà for Siena Cathedral. The small figure holds a slender staff, spreads dark wings and wears blue and red against a gold background. Its exact original position in the altarpiece is unknown. Painted between 1308 and 1311, it is now held at Huis Bergh Castle in the Netherlands, having been acquired by collector Jan van Heek in 1924.
Blue and warm orange-red do more than decorate the figure. Their contrast separates the body from the shimmering background and makes its silhouette legible even at a distance. The sleeve and cloak form a measured pattern, while the gold suggests a sacred realm without requiring a landscape or a realistically painted sky. This economy suited a panel intended for a lofty position.
