Monday, March 29, 2010

Resurrection Angel at Green-Wood Cemetery


This stunningly beautiful angel in the photo mosaic above is a bronze memorial on top of a substantial granite base of a grave identified only by the name "Valentine."  It is one of the approximately 106,000 monuments in the National Historic Landmark Green-Wood Cemetery located in Brooklyn, New York, which was established in the year 1838.

(all photos will enlarge when clicked on)



The angel was sculpted by the Italian-born artist Aldofo Appoloni, (1855 - 1923), who sculpted several other funerary monuments, found both in the United States and Italy. His name appears on the eastern side of the base of the angel, along with the word "Roma."
One of his better known sculptures is Winged Victory on the "Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele" in Rome. The base of the angel also identifies that it was made at "G. Nisini Fuse" which is deemed as one of Italy's finest 19th century bronze foundries.


The words "Ego Sum Resurrectio Et Vita" are inscribed in the granite base, and translated from Latin as "I am the Resurrection and the Life."


The "G. Nisini Fuse" inscription at the western facing base of the angel.


The angel is exquisite!  Notice the realistic detail of the feathers in her wings and the delicate draping of her gauzy robes.


A view of the back of the angel's flowing robes.


Her expressive face, with eyes turned upward, and arms outstretched with open fingers, displays such a uplifting feeling of grace and motion!  It is truly a valuable work of art worthy of being in the finest museum, and is one of my favorite sculptures among many beautiful ones in the cemetery.

  

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48 comments:

Bobbi Ann said...

How beautiful your mosaic is!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Gorgeous Pat... The Resurrection Angel is marvelous. Her detail is stunning.... AND --the way you presented her (mosaic) is super... Thanks!!!!!

Happy Easter!
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

Breathtaking! Thank you for showing so many different shots and the detail. It gives a very different perspective than if you had just shown the first shot.

Annesphamily said...

Pat ,you post the greatest stuff! This is gorgeous and breath taking! Thanks for sharing with us.

Cynthia K. said...

Wow! What a magnificent statue she is! You showed us so many wonderful views and angles. I'm amazed at the back view because of the flowing skirt - each fold is exquisite. I so appreciate you choosing her because of the beauty, art and especially her message of rejoicing and worshiping because He is the Resurrection and the Life. She is surely in the pose of joyfully doing just that.

Blessed Easter to you...

Cynthia K. (Beauty and Blessings)

Regina said...

Such beautiful angel! Its perfect.
Great mosaic as well. Thank you for sharing Pat.
Have a wonderful Holy Week and Easter.

The Gathering Place said...

Very nice. Those old statues have so much charm!
JoAnn

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Thank you for this guided tour, I'm a huge fan of great cemeteries, my favourite is Highgate in north London. I love that staty of yours!

Happy Easter/ Tyra

Tyra's Garden

My name is Riet said...

Oh Pat that statue is stunning. I have been admiring that work of beauty. Thank you for sharing and showing us al sides of it.

Old Kitty said...

Hi

Oh she is beautiful isn't she? I think the back of her robe is truly amazing - to suggest such a lightness of movement, such a fluidity of motion from something as heavy and inanimate as stone is truly sublime.

I wonder who Valentine is though?

Lovely pics and info as always!

Take care
x

Kat said...

Oh my, Pat. This is truly breathtaking. Your mosaic is just gorgeous, I love that you've shown us all the different views of this monument. The sense of movement in the back of the robe is just amazing. Thank you for sharing this, I just love old cemeteries and this place is truly magnificent. But I too wonder who Valentine might be? Kathy

Allie and Pattie said...

Pat, the detail is incredible- I found myself staring at the back of her robes for some time. You've done it again- started my day so beautifully
xoxo Pattie

Tracy said...

The splendor and wonder of that Angel brings tears to my eyes, Pat...It is stunning! You remember my "If I Was" list from this past Friday? Well, if I were a sculpture, I'd be this one! :o) Had to laugh over the Doc Martin in your comment. ;o) Must go back and look at this Angel again...Such a beautiful way to start the week. Happy Day, Pat ((HUGS))

Jojo said...

Absolutely beautiful and I love how you captured the flouncing skirt! Such a beautiful mosaic for Holy week.

Have a wonderful Easter.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Breathtaking...this is an amazing statue...thanks for showing it to us!!! Have a wonderful week!!!

Debbiedoos said...

That is unbelievable! You just do not see stones like that anymore....WOW what beautiful mosaics you made from her! Have a blessed week!~

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Exquisite, Pat! Wow, can you imagine being able to translate such detail into something tangible?

Perfect for Easter week, you're right!!

PAT said...

Amazing sculture, Pat! Thanks so much for sharing this!

Carol said...

She is a beautiful Angel!

Happy Easter to you and your family!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

That angel really is beautifully sculpted. Should have known it was an Italian!

diane b said...

A beautifully crafted statue. The robes are exquisite.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

This is such a stunning work of art Pat! Your mosaics have inspired me to learn more about posting pictures. It is so artful!
♥, Susan

From the Old InkWell said...

Pat, this is really beautiful and so timely for this Easter week ! Thanks so much for sharing. It brightened my day!

Americana Lady said...

Happy Easter! The picture of the back of the Angel rising its arms up to the light is so symbolic of the season! Joan

RoeH said...

Wow...she is so beautiful I think she's really alive. That's what I want on my grave. Everybody take up a collection! :)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Hi, Pat... I love that angel. She truly is magnificent. I think some of the most beautiful monuments are in cemeteries as this proves. She's perfect for Holy Week. :-)

I've been MIA without computer access and am about to be again. I'm asking my blogging friends for their prayers for the sale of our St. A. house. I won't waste space here, but I blogged about it. So if you can send a prayer heavenward for me, please do. I would greatly appreciate it.

Glad you had fun with your family! I love knowing you got to spend time with them.

See you when I get back...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Mary Bergfeld said...

Oh, how very lovely! I'm so glad that she has not been damaged or defaced in any way. Her message is especially fitting for Holy Week. Thank you for sharing her with us. Your photos are the next best thing to being there. Have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

Junie Moon said...

You always have the most thoughtful and beautiful posts, Pat!

Just a little something from Judy said...

I feel like I should pay you tuition for all that I continually learn from this blog. You are a walking, talking, photographing history book, and that makes coming here such fun. Thank you! This statue is amazing.

Vee said...

She's lovely all right! And a little surprising for a Resurrection Angel that one might expect from Sunday School days. :D

Kathleen said...

Beautiful, Pat. The detail is amazing!
Hope you have a very blessed Easter!

Fifi Flowers said...

GORGEOUS! AMAZING!!!

Judy said...

Great detail...and lovely mosaic.

Amanda at 32˙North said...

Hi Pat,

I read recently that before Central Park was established back in the day, New Yorkers went to cemeteries for greenery and wide open spaces as a respite from city life.

Your photographs of a beautiful work of art do it great justice.

Amanda

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Your photos...and this angel are breathtaking! I've had your post open all day and have looked at your post several times. This angel and the Green Wood Cemetery are the photographs on your blog that are most memorable to me. Thank you so much for sharing them. I am in awe.

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous joyful angel so full of life. Love the movement in her robes too. Thanks for showing her Pat.

Joyce said...

Wow she really is a work of art!
Joyce

La Petite Gallery said...

I would say that is the best statue of an Angel I have seen.
So much detail. Beautiful.
Great Post as always..

yvonne

Anonymous said...

This is indeed a beautiful piece of work. I don't know anything about the process of making such a sculpture and that makes it even more astonishing looking. Your shots are great and show it off to all it's greatest advantage. It is a perfect mosaic for this sacred week. Blessed Easter to you.
QMM

Terra said...

When I saw the angel with uplifted arms I was happy. This is bold, beautiful and true, like Easter.

Carole Burant said...

She is absolutely breathtaking! I don't think I've ever seen a sculpture so beautiful and I just love all the detail that was put into it. How fun it must have been to find out all about the sculptor as well!! xoxo

steviewren said...

It really is an exceptionally beautiful sculpture. I'm always amazed the way the sculptor is able to free something so lifelike from stone. The folds on the back of the gown are wonderful.

CatHerder said...

WOW thats STUNNING!

Mary said...

Pat, that is so gorgeous, and your photos are wonderful! thanks so much for sharing at MM. :0

Have a wonderful Easter!

Louise said...

Pat, the photos of this heavenly angel are just stunning! And against those blue skies. Thank you so much for sharing them with us mortals who may never get to see this beautiful monument for real. x

happily retired gal said...

What MARVELOUS views of this wonderful statute.
Hugs and blessings,

Unknown said...

Stunning. In fact I owe a "Mercurio voando (Original by Giambolognia)" statuette made by Giovanni Nisini. It is very rich in detail and I think that it is a "cire perdue" (I think a lost form cast to be more precise) cast. Stunning also. I would like to know more about him. What else do you know? I found an auction where the foundry address was given as Via Babuino 63 on an engraving. Another action had a statuette dated to 1795 but all other seem to be dated a century later. But the dealer confirmed that the date was engraved. Was this a family business? Let me know if you have more details and thanks for sharing. Greets, Ben.

Unknown said...

Just want to say thank you for brining us this, I feel that some of the most beautiful there is can be found in cemeteries.