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Head of an Angel (?)

ca. 1250
On view at The Met Cloisters in Gallery 08
The enigmatic smile and lyrical treatment of the hair distinguish this angelic head as an outstanding example of mid-thirteenth-century Parisian sculpture. Several stylistic and technical aspects, such as the type of limestone, link this work with sculpture made for the cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris. The absence of weathering suggests the head was originally part of an interior setting, yet its exact origin and function remain unknown.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Head of an Angel (?)
  • Date: ca. 1250
  • Geography: Made in Paris, France
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: Limestone, paint
  • Dimensions: 9 5/8 × 6 3/4 × 5 13/16 in. (24.5 × 17.2 × 14.8 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Stone
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Michel David-Weill Gift, 1990
  • Object Number: 1990.132
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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