(After) Melozzo da Forlì, An Angel Playing the Lute

Description:
This print is a faithful reproduction of Melozzo da Forlì’s An Angel Playing the Lute, originally part of a fresco that adorned the apse of the Church of the SS. Apostoli in Rome. The angel depicted in this work, with its delicate pose and serene expression, embodies the grace and spirituality that Melozzo’s art is known for. The intricate details and careful attention to form reflect the artist’s mastery in using perspective and foreshortening, hallmarks of his mature style.

Medium: Print
Dimensions:

Sight: 25 x 20 cm
Frame: 39 x 31 cm
About the Original:
The fresco An Angel Playing the Lute was part of a monumental decoration by Melozzo da Forlì created around 1480. The original fresco, which depicted apostles and angel musicians in a majestic Ascension scene, was destroyed in 1711. It was painted as part of the restoration efforts for the Church of the SS. Apostoli under Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, the future Pope Julius II. Melozzo’s highly foreshortened, dynamic figures reveal his expertise in perspective and demonstrate the influence of his studies under Piero della Francesca.

About the Artist:
Melozzo da Forlì (1438–1494) was an influential early Renaissance painter renowned for his mastery of illusionistic perspective and foreshortening. Working in Rome, Urbino, and Forlì, Melozzo was influenced by the works of Andrea Mantegna and Piero della Francesca. He became famous for his frescoes, particularly those in the Vatican, where his painting Sixtus IV Founding the Vatican Library showcased his skill in creating depth and monumental figures. Melozzo’s works, though few remain intact, left a lasting impression on the development of Renaissance art, particularly in the realm of perspective.