Description

Angel Above by P. Buckley Moss

Introduction

Angel Above by P. Buckley Moss is a charming 1999 numbered, limited-edition lithograph featuring a young angel with flowing lavender and pink wings, seated high on a gray architectural pedestal with an open book resting across her lap.

With curly golden hair, a soft blue floral dress, and a gentle expression, the young figure brings warmth and personality to this imaginative composition. The sweeping wings surround her in delicate layers of color, while the open book introduces a theme of reading, imagination, and discovery.

Angel Above offers a distinctive combination of childhood innocence, angel imagery, and the pleasures of storytelling.

Story Behind the Artwork

At the center of Angel Above is a young figure enjoying a quiet moment with a book.

She sits barefoot atop a tall, gray pedestal, her legs crossed comfortably as she looks outward. An open book rests across her lap, while her expansive wings unfold behind her in soft pink, purple, and lavender.

The setting is intentionally spare. Without a surrounding landscape or detailed interior, the viewer’s attention remains on the young angel, her book, and the graceful movement of her wings.

The title Angel Above adds another dimension to the scene. The figure’s elevated position may suggest a heavenly perspective, while her relaxed posture makes her approachable and familiar.

For collectors, the artwork can evoke childhood reading memories, imaginative stories, and the comforting presence often associated with guardian angels.

No documented artist statement has been supplied identifying the book or explaining the intended meaning of the figure’s elevated position.

Symbols & Meaning

• The Young Angel: Angels are widely associated with spiritual guidance, comfort, and protection. The youthful figure gives these associations a gentle, child-centered quality.

• The Open Book: Books commonly symbolize learning, imagination, memory, and the sharing of stories.

• The Expansive Wings: The flowing lavender and pink forms suggest freedom, movement, and an imaginative world beyond everyday experience.

• The Elevated Pedestal: The height of the figure may evoke reflection, perspective, or a place apart from ordinary surroundings.

• Bare Feet and Relaxed Posture: These details give the angel an informal, approachable character.

• Soft Pastel Colors: The pink, lavender, and blue-gray palette contributes to an atmosphere of tenderness and calm.

These interpretations are drawn from visible imagery and familiar cultural symbolism, not from a documented explanation of the artwork by Moss.

Artistic Details

One of the most distinctive features of Angel Above is the contrast between its delicate, flowing wings and the solid architectural form beneath the seated figure.

The gray pedestal provides a strong vertical foundation. Above it, the angel’s wings extend outward in broad, irregular shapes, filling much of the composition with lavender, violet, and rose tones.

Fine, curling outlines continue beyond the colored areas, creating an airy, expressive effect.

The young angel’s golden curls and warm complexion provide contrast against the cooler blue-gray of her floral dress. Small floral details soften the clothing, while the open book introduces a second focal point beneath her face.

Moss also uses the figure’s casual pose to distinguish this artwork from more formal religious angel imagery. The child appears comfortable and absorbed in her surroundings rather than participating in a recognizable biblical event.

The pale background gives the artwork visual breathing room and allows the wing shapes, delicate outlines, and central figure to remain prominent.

Featured Master Collections

Primary Master Collection: Childhood & Storytelling

The young reader and open book provide the clearest narrative focus. The artwork connects naturally with childhood imagination, learning, and memories of favorite stories.

Supporting Master Collection: Faith That Endures

The angelic figure introduces themes of spiritual companionship, comfort, and guidance.

Supporting Master Collection: Family & Legacy

The image can resonate with collectors who associate reading with family traditions, childhood encouragement, and stories shared between generations.

Decorating Ideas

Angel Above is particularly well suited to spaces devoted to reading, reflection, or childhood memories.

Its soft lavender, pink, and blue-gray palette can complement cream walls, natural wood furnishings, and gentle pastel accents. The vertical format works well beside a bookshelf, above a small reading chair, or within a grouping of Moss angel and childhood subjects.

The artwork can also bring a whimsical accent to a child’s bedroom or a grandparent’s reading nook without relying on a seasonal theme.

Gift Ideas

Angel Above combines the emotional appeal of angel imagery with the enduring importance of books.

It may be especially meaningful as a gift for a young reader, a teacher or librarian, or a grandparent who enjoys sharing stories with children.

The artwork is also a thoughtful choice for someone who collects P. Buckley Moss angels or appreciates gentle, imaginative artwork.

About the Edition

Angel Above was published in 1999 as a numbered, limited-edition lithograph.

The numbered edition and artist’s proofs are separate edition groups.

🎨 Fun Fact:

Long before modern children’s picture books, the idea of learning through illustrated stories was taking shape in Europe. In 1658, educator John Amos Comenius published Orbis Sensualium Pictus (The Visible World in Pictures), a work often recognized as one of the earliest illustrated educational books specifically designed for children. Its pages paired pictures with vocabulary and explanations, helping young readers connect words with the world around them. The book became influential in the history of illustrated learning materials. This historical connection concerns children’s books generally; it does not suggest that Moss depicted or drew inspiration from Comenius’s publication.

🖼️ Collector’s Insight:

What makes Angel Above distinctive is the way it brings together two subjects that might otherwise appear in separate artworks: a youthful angel and the simple pleasure of reading. The open book gives the figure a recognizable, everyday activity, while the large lavender and pink wings transform the scene into something imaginative. Moss balances the airy movement of the wings against the firm vertical shape of the gray pedestal, creating a composition that feels both grounded and whimsical. For collectors interested in Moss’s childhood subjects, angel imagery, or the theme of storytelling, this 1999 lithograph offers a particularly appealing intersection of those interests.

Why Buy from Canada Goose Gallery

Canada Goose Gallery offers Angel Above in new, mint condition, with a Certificate of Authenticity included.

The gallery provides the publication year, edition quantities, image and paper dimensions, and listed price so collectors can evaluate the artwork with confidence.

For more information about collecting P. Buckley Moss artwork, visit the Canada Goose Gallery Collector FAQ.

Continue Exploring

• Angel Child — Another child-centered angel subject.

• Angel Friends— Angel imagery with a theme of companionship.

• Angels — A composition featuring three angelic figures.

• Angel Collection
• Children Collection
• Religious Collection
• Reading
• P. Buckley Moss Prints
• The Collections Hub

“A Little Reading Magic.”

 “Where Stories Give Imagination Wings.”

 “For the Reader Who Dreams.”