Gilt Bronze Kneeling Angel by Jean Francois Theodore Gechter

19th Century Gilt bronze sculpture by Jean Francois Theodore Gechter 1796-1844. of a kneeling or resting angel mounted on a bronze naturalistic base, signed Th. Gechter. The angel could well be Mary Magdalene, sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine, was a Jewish woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, travelled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and its aftermath. Theodore Gechter lived and worked in Paris, France most of his life. his work favoured heroic figures and bas-reliefs for public statuary, Later in his life he became friends with Antoine Louis Barye the great French Animalier sculptor, which influenced Theodore to an interest in animal sculptures. This sculpture still holds the spiritual feel and impression today that it did nearly 180 years ago when Theodore first created this beautiful sculpture.