Three Musical Angels
Decorative panel paintings in Neo-Gothic tabernacle frames • Florentine School, manner of Fra Angelico (likely an artisan workshop such as Fratelli Alinari or similar)
Style & Movement
Gothic Revival (Neo-Gothic), specifically echoing the Italian Trecento and Quattrocento
Medium & Technique
Egg tempera and gold leaf on gesso-prepared wood panels; water gilding and punchwork
Creation Period
Late 19th to early 20th century (c. 1880-1920)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 45 x 15 cm each; vertical lancet format housed in architectural frames with crocketed gables and twisted columns.
Subject Description
Three individual panels depicting celestial angels playing medieval instruments (drum/tambourine, trumpet, and possibly a lute or hand-clapping) against a gold ground. The iconography is a direct homage to the Linaiuoli Tabernacle by Fra Angelico.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; the works show intentional 'antiquing' but maintain structural integrity.
Estimated Market Value
$1,500 - $2,500 USD for the set of three.
Auction Estimate
$800 - $1,200 USD
Provenance History
Likely Grand Tour souvenirs purchased in Florence or Rome; typical of high-end decorative arts sold to European and American travelers during the late Victorian/Edwardian era.
Art Historical Significance
Significant as examples of the late 19th-century 'Cult of the Primitives' and the Gothic Revival movement, illustrating how Renaissance masterpieces were commodified for the domestic interior.
Notable Features
The frames are elaborate recreations of 14th-century Italian tabernacles, featuring Solomonic columns and trefoil arches, which are often more valued by collectors than the paintings themselves.
Condition Issues
Minor abrasions to the gilding, dust accumulation in the carved crevices, and slight craquelure (likely induced during manufacture). Potential darkening of the varnish.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning, stabilization of any flaking gold leaf, and display away from direct sunlight or extreme humidity fluctuations.