Complete the form below and our dedicated art consultants will contact you with personalised guidance on this artwork.
Framed: 28.5 x 32 in | 72.39 x 81.28 cm
Mixed Media and Fine Art Print
Art Consultation
Hand-signed mixed-media limited edition with blind embossing by Gary James McQueen.
Created after McQueen’s time as Head of Menswear Textiles at Alexander McQueen, 'The Flayed Angel' explores the beauty hidden beneath the surface. Suspended between vulnerability and strength, the artwork reflects the artist’s enduring fascination with transformation, where beauty is revealed not despite what lies beneath the surface, but because of it.
The 'Flayed Angel' is inspired by the famous illustration with the same title originally published around 1745–1746 as part of Gautier d'Agoty’s anatomical studies, particularly within Myologie Complète en Couleur et Grandeur Naturelle. The work depicts the back muscles and spine of a partially dissected female figure whose skin has been removed, or 'flayed', exposing the musculature beneath. Despite the graphic subject matter, the figure is posed gracefully and almost serenely, creating an unsettling contrast between beauty and anatomical exposure. This unusual balance between elegance and dissection is what earned the image the name 'The Flayed Angel'.
Modern audiences often view the image as both haunting and beautiful, reflecting eighteenth-century tensions between scientific curiosity, mortality, religion, and aesthetics. Today, 'The Flayed Angel' remains an enduring symbol of the intersection between art and anatomy. Its unsettling elegance continues to provoke discussion about how the human body is represented, studied, and understood in both medicine and culture.
In McQueen’s 'The Flayed Angel', the spine is no longer an anatomical study but a symbol of resilience and transformation. Rendered in gold and emerging from sculptural crimson forms, it speaks to the unseen forces that shape us—the experiences, memories and vulnerabilities that become the architecture of who we are.
This artwork is a mixed-media limited edition with blind embossing on Somerset Satin 410gsm paper.
Find out more about Gary James McQueen's art here.
Delivery & Returns
Production & Delivery
All our artwork is made to order in Birmingham, UK, ensuring top quality. Please allow up to six weeks for delivery. Each piece is carefully crafted to meet our high standards.
If you order multiple artworks, they may arrive separately for efficiency.
Returns
We offer a 14-day cooling-off period so you can view the artwork in your home. If it's not right for you, we’ll collect it free of charge or you can return it to one of our galleries.
For international orders, the same policy applies—contact us to arrange collection.
Choose options
The Flayed Angel
Sale price$2,659.00
A closer look
THE FINER DETAILS
Hand-signed by the artist
The artwork is hand-signed by Gary James McQueen.
Ready to Hang
This artwork arrives ready to hang, ensuring a hassle-free setup. Simply unbox, choose your perfect spot, and enjoy its beauty instantly.
Mixed-media Limited Edition
This artwork is a mixed-media limited edition with blind embossing on Somerset Satin 410gsm paper.
The artist
Gary James McQueen
Celebrating fantastical form by exquisitely blending traditional fine art values and groundbreaking digital design, Gary James McQueen crafts romantic, timeless tales and exotic worlds.
Formerly a designer and photographer in the fashion industry, Gary worked with his uncle, the late British fashion designer and couturier Lee Alexander McQueen
Recently viewed
Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions
At checkout, you'll have the option to have your order delivered to your home or to collect it from one of our galleries across the UK. For more information on delivery, visit our delivery page here.
Yes, Castle Fine Art is based in the UK, but we ship internationally. All of our international orders are delivered via DHL.
To ensure a secure transit, every artwork is handled with utmost care. We take precautionary measures by using foam around the piece for added safety during transportation, and then the artwork(s) are packaged in double-walled, reinforced cardboard boxes that offer superior protection. All of this ensures that your artwork arrives safely.
Most artwork orders will need to be professionally mounted and framed before being dispatched, so delivery can take up to four weeks from the date you placed your order, but we do strive to deliver your order as soon as we can.
Books and gift cards are delivered within 2-3 working days. Please note, if multiple artworks are purchased within the same order, they may be delivered separately for efficient delivery.
The majority of our originals and limited editions are hand signed by the artist themselves. On some occasions where we have limited edition sculptures, this is hand written into the mould before production. If you're unsure, please contact us.
30 years of fantastic art
In 1995, we opened our first-ever gallery in Stratford-upon-Avon. With just one goal in mind - to make our art accessible to all - our fledgling company began to spread its roots.
Craftsmanship and Quality
Every piece of art is mounted, glazed or framed by hand, with our bespoke framing service selected by our creative department.
Built to last
Our foundations are built on a passion for art, and many of our staff (and collectors!) have been with us from the very beginning.
Free Delivery
Free UK delivery on all artwork and sculpture orders