Angel candleholder
Author: Ambrósio Coelho (carving) and Manuel Gomes de Andrade (gilding and painting)
Date: 18th century (carving – 1731 – 32; gilding and painting – 1733)
Material: Oak
Dimensions (cm): H 226,5 x W 91,5 x D 72
Provenance: Guimarães, Convento de Santa Clara
Inventory No.: MAS E 7 (related piece: MAS E 8)
These two monumental symmetric wingless figures wear garments with agitated and ample drapery. The fabrics are executed in gesso on wood emulating fabrics of great quality, embroidered in gold. They wear a plume headdress over an elegant hairstyle, a sort of warrior’s cuirass and closed high boots, recalling that they are the sacred warriors and the protectors of the celestial court, but having distinguished manners and gallantry. Their left hands rest on scrolls that are on top of cartouches bearing the following words: “TU SOLOS DOMINUS” (MAS E 7) and “TU SOLUS SANCTUS” (MAS E 8).
They are an example of monumentality and elegance that complemented the stunning Baroque woodcarving of the chancel of the Convento de Santa Clara.
The angel candleholders are winged or wingless figures that can appear in pairs, isolated or as part of woodcarving altarpieces, being common images in Portuguese churches.