Throughout his career Damien Hirst has created works of art that examine the complex roles that religion, science, nature and beauty play within society, doing so across various mediums such as installation, sculpture, painting and drawing. Within this diverse oeuvre, the editioned sculpture ‘Anatomy of an Angel, White’ from 2012 stands out in its nuanced assessment of scientific and spiritual belief systems. This work is a maquette-sized facsimile of an earlier, life-sized Carrara marble version produced by Hirst in 2008.
Based on the French sculptor Alfred Boucher’s 1920 bronze angel ‘L’Hirondelle’, Hirst’s sculpture depicts a classically posed angel recollective of Neo-classical sculptures. Yet, Hirst’s angel is rendered mortal with sections of her skin removed to reveal the flesh, bone and other biological structures underneath. By providing the angel with the anatomy of a mortal, Hirst eschews fantastical and traditional representations of such religious subjects in favour of scientific accuracy.
Small in scale but deep in concept and allegory, ‘Anatomy of an Angel, White’ shows Hirst deftly fusing his interests in pastiche, art history and contemporary science. Here, he thoughtfully and wittily lays bare the interconnected relationships between science and religion, truth and belief.
| Dimensions | 33 x 19 x 14 cm |
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| Material | Resin |
| Edition Size | 50 + 10 AP |
| Shipping | We estimate that the earliest completion date for delivery will be three weeks from the date of purchase. Timing is dependent on COVID-19 restrictions and delays. |