This sculpture is entitled "Jol" which is Icelandic for "Christmas". It is dated "1917-1922".
All of the sculptures here are by Icelandic artist Einar Jonsson.
The work depicts a child angel, standing with arms stretched out at the sides...and spreading an elaborate gown. Hidden behind the child and seen only when viewing the sculpture from the side is a seated (or kneeling, crouching?) adult angel who may be praying.
Wikipedia (
visit link) informs us about angels:
"An angel is a purely spiritual being found in various religions and mythologies. In Abrahamic religions and Zoroastrianism, angels are often depicted as benevolent celestial beings who act as intermediaries between God or Heaven and Earth, or as guardian spirits or a guiding influence. Other roles of angels include protecting and guiding human beings, and carrying out God's tasks. The term "angel" has also been diversed to various notions of spirits or figures found in many other religious traditions. The theological study of angels is known as "angelology".
In art, angels are often depicted with bird-like wings on their back, a halo, robes and various forms of glowing light."