Angel Sculpture

The sculpture originates from the main altar of the All Saints Church in Hodovytsia. The church was built according to the design of architect Bernard Meretyn. The sculpture was created in the late 1750s, probably between 1757-59.

The sculpture of the Angel is characterized by a humbly bowed head turned to the right, a face with open eyes, and bare arms from the elbows, clasped behind the back. The figure rests its right knee on the base, while the left bent leg is exposed from the knee to the foot.

The angel’s garment is sculpted in planes and edges fitted to the figure, with a simplified representation of body anatomy. The attire is simple, with calm folds; the material seems to envelop the angel’s airy form, with only the hands, head with torso, and both legs below the knees possessing bodily features.

To highlight the concept, the artist realistically and colorfully paints the exposed parts of the body and hair, while covering the garment with gilding.

In this work, Pinsel carefully focuses on the expression of the kneeling angel, who says, “Protect and grant forgiveness to those who place their hope in You.” Unfortunately, today the sculptural composition lacks the gilded, wide, and filigree-carved wings.

Johann Georg Pinsel was a prominent Baroque sculptor active in the mid-18th century in what is now Ukraine. He was likely born in Germany or Austria, and his artistic activity is mainly associated with the Galicia region, particularly the city of Lviv.

Pinsel was renowned for the extraordinary expression and dynamism of his works, which are characterized by rich ornamentation and dramatic use of chiaroscuro.

His works, such as altar sculptures in the churches of Buchach and Hodovytsia, stand out for their intense emotions and dynamic figures. Pinsel was also closely associated with the Lviv architect Bernard Meretyn, with whom he collaborated on numerous sacred projects. Despite modest biographical data, Johann Georg Pinsel is considered one of the most important Baroque sculptors in Central Europe. His artistic legacy attracts the attention of researchers and art enthusiasts, and numerous exhibitions and publications dedicated to his work contribute to the popularization of his creations.