Kneeling Angel

Below the Surface The X-radiograph of "Kneeling Angel" reveals that Bernini modeled the sculpture principally from one piece of solid clay. This method is a hallmark of Bernini’s "bozzetti," or sketch models, and distinguished the artist from his contemporaries, who often hollowed their "bozzetti" to prevent damage during firing. Many of the models in this room were produced using solid clay. To prepare his clay, Bernini applied the “wedging” technique to consolidate the material and drive out trapped air. Like kneading bread dough, wedging forms a column of clay and aligns any remaining trapped air into a linear pattern, which can be seen in the X-radiograph in what looks like wood grain. That the grain pattern here is continuous from bottom to top is evidence that Bernini used a single and solid piece of clay. To model the wings, arms, hair, and drapery, he removed and added small pieces of clay. [image of x-radiograph]