Tino di Camaino, Angels from the sepulcher of Antonio d'Orso

Author
Tino di Camaino
Date
1324
Collocation
Sala delle navate
Original location
Cathedral, counter-façade, funeral monument of Antonio d'Orso
Material
White marble
Technique
Sculpture
Dimensions
Height: 10,5 cm | 11 cm; Width: 59 cm | 60 cm; Thickness: 10,5 cm | 11 cm;

These two marble reliefs depicting curtain-bearing angels are part of the dismembered funerary monument of Bishop Antonio Orso, originally in the counter-façade of Santa Maria del Fiore, by Tino di Camaino. Bishop Orso died in 1321, and left money by testament to clothe 100 needy people and build his funerary monument, which was completed in 1324. Francesco da Barberino, pre-humanist jurist and scholar, took charge of fulfilling Bishop Orso’s last will. He both awarded the prestigious commission to Tino di Camaino, a well-established architect and sculptor, and guided the iconographic project for the monument. However, as early as 1379, following the completion of the central nave of the Cathedral, the tomb was removed from the counter-façade and, reduced to its present form, transported to the right aisle. In 1841 it was returned to its original location, but without the angels.

At the end of the 19th century, the two angels were taken from the Cathedral stores and donated to the Torrigiani family in recognition of their support for construction of the new facade. The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore purchased the sculptures from the family in 2016. The iconography of the angel holding the curtain is ancient and widespread. Tino certainly drew inspiration from Arnolfo's curtain-holding angels of the medieval facade, but in the context of the funerary monument they would have held the curtains of the canopy raised over the bishop's bier. The bishop is portrayed seated, but dead, as was the practice in arranging the bodies of notables on the occasion of their funeral celebrations.

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Sala delle navate