Angel

This painting by Piero della Francesca angel as part of his Legend of the True Cross fresco cycle in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo. Painted between 1452 and 1464, the cycle ranks among the greatest achievements of the Italian Early Renaissance. The angel figure demonstrates Piero's distinctive combination of geometric precision and luminous, pale color.

The frescoes illustrate the legend of how the wood of Christ's cross traveled through history, from the Tree of Knowledge to Helena's discovery in Jerusalem. Piero's figures appear almost frozen in perfect stillness, their simplified forms creating a meditative atmosphere quite different from the drama of other Renaissance painters.

The cycle was commissioned by the Bacci family and remained in the Basilica of San Francesco where Piero painted it. An exhaustive restoration from 1991 to 2000 revealed the original brilliance of his colors. Some scholars now question whether all parts were executed by Piero himself or by workshop assistants.