Francesco Pesellino and completed by Fra Filippo Lippi and workshop – Angel (Left Hand) Part 2 National Gallery UK

The composition presents a single figure – an angel – rendered in a manner that emphasizes grace and ethereal presence. The subject is positioned diagonally across the frame, creating a dynamic sense of movement and defying conventional static depictions. Here we see the angel leaning forward, his body tilted as if propelled by an unseen force. This posture contributes to the impression of lightness and transcendence.
The artist has employed a limited palette dominated by warm earth tones – ochres, browns, and yellows – for the figure’s robes and flesh, contrasted against a deep blue background. The color choices contribute to a sense of solemnity and spiritual depth. The folds of the drapery are meticulously rendered, creating volume and texture while simultaneously enhancing the impression of flowing movement. Light falls upon the angel from an unseen source, highlighting the contours of his face and body, and adding to the overall luminosity.
The angel’s expression is one of quiet contemplation or perhaps sorrowful reverence. His downcast gaze suggests humility and introspection. The rendering of his hair – a cascade of tightly curled locks – is characteristic of the periods aesthetic preferences for youthful beauty and idealized forms. His wings, meticulously detailed with individual feathers, further reinforce his celestial nature.
Below the angel, a landscape is suggested through sparse elements: stylized trees and what appears to be a column or architectural feature. These details ground the figure within a recognizable space while simultaneously maintaining an otherworldly quality. The inclusion of these earthly elements subtly contrasts with the angel’s divine status, perhaps hinting at his role as an intermediary between the heavenly and terrestrial realms.
The compositions truncated nature – the figure is cropped at the edges – creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy, drawing the viewer into the scene. This technique also implies that the angel is part of a larger narrative or context beyond what is visible in this fragment. The subtext suggests themes of divine intervention, spiritual contemplation, and the delicate balance between the mortal and immortal worlds.