ROSSO FIORENTINO
(b. 1494, Firenze, d. 1540, Paris)

Musician Angel

1521
Oil on wood, 40 x 47 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

This little work belonging to the period of maturity of the artist, who was a pupil of Andrea del Sarto, together with Pontormo.

In 1605 the picture was collocated in the Tribune beside the more precious masterworks Medici family had collected. Recent studies revealed the panel to be a fragment of a larger painting including - such as other altarpieces by Rosso - the angel in the lower part of the scene. A sense of vitality and tenderness emanates from this little cherub playing a lute, probably dating to the beginning of the third decade of 16th century.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 2 minutes):
Francesco da Milano: Tre fantasie for lute