The Angel of Monteverde

Staglieno Monumental Cemetery is home to the Angel of Monteverde, a masterpiece of neoclassical funerary art considered one of the most beautiful and sensuous of its kind.Also known as the "Angel of Resurrection," the sculpture was created in 1882 by renowned Italian artist Giulio Monteverde. Commissioned by Francesco Oneto, president of Banca Generale, the work was created in memory of the Oneto family.The marble sculpture depicts an angel with the likeness of a young girl, with detailed curls and a long trumpet in her hand that will be played on Judgment Day. Unlike many angels in funerary art, her face has a subtle, pensive expression that seems both consoling and detached.Monteverde's Angel was well received by the public and became so popular that it was repeatedly imitated throughout Europe and North America, giving rise almost to a common style. Monteverde also created a replica for his own tomb in the Verano Cemetery, Rome, a full 26 years before his death.Despite numerous imitations, none has been able to replicate the delicate beauty of this masterpiece. The original still stands in Staglieno as a precious relic.