Head of an Angel in Left Profile 1394 - 1400

Taddeo di Bartolo painted this small panel, "Head of an Angel in Left Profile", sometime between the late 14th and early 15th century. Di Bartolo lived and worked in Siena, Italy, during a time of immense religious fervor. The Church was not only a spiritual guide but also a powerful political entity. Di Bartolo's angel, with her delicate features and serene expression, embodies an ideal of feminine beauty that was deeply intertwined with religious devotion. Angels, often depicted with pale skin and flowing hair, served as intermediaries between the divine and earthly realms. The artist, however, seems to have feminized the angel’s features, giving the figure a slightly downturned chin and full cheeks. By humanizing the angel, Di Bartolo invites us to consider the spiritual world as accessible and intimate. He encourages a personal connection with the divine, one that transcends dogma. He does this by subtly challenging the rigid boundaries of religious art, and reflecting a more inclusive and emotionally resonant understanding of faith.