Candlestick in the Form of a Kneeling Angel 1587 - 1603

This bronze candlestick was created by Giambologna, sometime before his death in 1608. The angel is kneeling, embracing a gnarled, tree-like form that culminates in a spike for holding a candle. Giambologna was a master of bronze casting, a demanding process involving the creation of a detailed wax model, investing it in a mold, melting out the wax, and then pouring molten bronze into the resulting cavity. Once cooled, the mold would be broken away to reveal the rough casting, requiring extensive chasing and finishing. The final result is a testament to both artistic vision and technical mastery. In the Renaissance, bronze sculptures were highly prized, seen as symbols of wealth, power, and cultural sophistication. The creation of such objects involved not only the artist, but also a workshop of skilled laborers, each contributing to the final product. Objects like this challenge our modern distinctions between fine art and design, demanding that we consider the social context of making.