Etymology: the term derives from the Greek Ángelos (ἄγγελος), meaning “messenger.” In Italian, the word “angelo” has mantained this meaning and refers specifically to celestial beings who act as intermediaries between God and humanity.

This sculpture depicts an angel holding a branch of flowers, an attribute often associated with angelic figures in the context of sacred decorative art. The pose and the floral attribute lend the work an elegant and harmonious line, consistent with the iconographic program of the north transept. In the Christian imagination, the depiction of an angel with a floral offering is among the most classic and captivating, a symbol of the beauty of Creation.

The history of the statue in the Duomo’s construction site:

The original statue was created and designed by the sculptor Giuseppe Puricelli in 1734. The structure of the entire spire was completed around 1730 by the craftsmen active on the site at that time. The work currently visible at the top of the spire is a copy, installed in 2023. The reproduction was carried out by the Franco Cervietti Workshop in Pietrasanta (Tuscany). As for the historical artifact, Puricelli’s original statue was removed for conservation reasons and is now kept at the Marble Yard of the Veneranda Fabbrica.