Description
These airborne cherubs probably formed part of the decorations crowning an church altar. One of the putti holds a heart, which would originally have included a flame (now lost). An expression of religious fervor, the burning heart also referenced the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which in Christian imagery symbolized Christ’s love for humanity.
Provenance
Kurt Rossacher (Salzburg, Austria), sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1971.
Accession Number
1971.8
Medium
painted and gilded wood
Dimensions
Overall: 55.9 x 41.9 x 41.9 cm (22 x 16 1/2 x 16 1/2 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund
