Angels in art

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Auf zarten Saiten by Ephraim Moses Lilien, 1900
Song of the Angels (1881) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905)

Angels have appeared in works of art since early Christian art, and they have been a popular subject for Byzantine and European paintings and sculpture.

Angels are usually intended, in both Christian and Islamic art, to be beautiful, though several depictions go for more awesome/frightening attributes, notably in the depiction of the living creatures (which have bestial characteristics), ophanim (which are unanthropomorphic wheels) and cherubim (which have mosaic features);[1] As a matter of theology, they are spiritual beings who do not eat or excrete and are genderless. Many angels in art may appear to the modern eye to be gendered as either male or female by their dress or actions, but until the 19th century, even the most female looking will normally lack breasts, and the figures should normally be considered as genderless.[2] In 19th-century art, especially funerary art, this traditional convention is sometimes abandoned.

Christian art[edit]

Winged angels in togas, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome (432-440)

In the Early Church[edit]

Specific ideas regarding how to portray angels began to develop in the early Church. Since angels are defined as pure spirits, [3][4] the lack of a defined form has allowed artists wide latitude for creativity.[5] Daniel 8:15 describes Gabriel as appearing in the "likeness of man" and in Daniel 9:21 he is referred to as "the man Gabriel." Such anthropomorphic descriptions of an angel are consistent with previous descriptions of angels, as in Genesis 19:5.[6] They were usually depicted in the form of young men.[7]

The earliest known Christian image of an angel, in the Cubicolo dell'Annunziazione in the Catacomb of Priscilla, which is dated to the middle of the third century, is a depiction of the Annunciation in which Gabriel is portrayed without wings. Representations of angels on sarcophagi and on objects such as lamps and reliquaries of that period also show them without wings,[8] as for example the angel in the Sacrifice of Isaac scene in the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus.

In a third-century fresco of the Hebrew children in the furnace, in the cemetery of St. Priscilla, a dove takes the place of the angel, while a fourth-century representation of the same subject, in the coemeterium majus, substitutes the Hand of God for the heavenly messenger.[9]

The earliest known representation of angels with wings is on what is called the Prince's Sarcophagus, discovered at Sarigüzel, near Istanbul, in the 1930s, and attributed to the time of Theodosius I (379-395).[10] Flying winged angels, very often in pairs flanking a central figure or subject, are derivations in visual terms from pairs of winged Victories in classical art.[7]

In this same period, Saint John Chrysostom explained the significance of angels' wings: "They manifest a nature's sublimity. That is why Gabriel is represented with wings. Not that angels have wings, but that you may know that they leave the heights and the most elevated dwelling to approach human nature. Accordingly, the wings attributed to these powers have no other meaning than to indicate the sublimity of their nature."[11]

From then on Christian art generally represented angels with wings, as in the cycle of mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (432-440).[12] Multi-winged angels, often with only their face and wings showing, drawn from the higher grades of angels, especially cherubim and seraphim, are derived from Persian art [citation needed], and are usually shown only in heavenly contexts, as opposed to performing tasks on earth. They often appear in the pendentives of domes or semi-domes of churches.

Byzantine art[edit]

12th century icon of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel wearing the loros of the Imperial guards.

Angels appear in Byzantine art in mosaics and icons. Artists found some of their inspiration from winged Greek figures such as "Victory". They also drew from imperial iconography. Court eunuchs could rise to positions of authority in the Empire. They performed ceremonial functions and served as trusted messengers. Amelia R. Brown points out that legislation under Justinian indicates that many of them came from the Caucasus, having light eyes, hair, and skin, as well as the "comely features and fine bodies" desired by slave traders.[13] Those "castrated in childhood developed a distinctive skeletal structure, lacked full masculine musculature, body hair and beards,...." As officials, they would wear a white tunic decorated with gold. Brown suggests that "Byzantine artists drew, consciously or not, on this iconography of the court eunuch".[13]

Daniel 10: 5-6 describes an angel as clothed in linen and girt with gold.[4] Angels, especially the archangel Michael, who were depicted as military-style agents of God, came to be shown wearing Late Antique military uniform. This could be either the normal military dress, with a tunic to about the knees, armour breastplate and pteruges, but also often the specific dress of the bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperor, with a long tunic and the loros, a long gold and jewelled pallium restricted to the Imperial family and their closest guards, and in icons to archangels. The basic military dress it is still worn in pictures into the Baroque period and beyond in the West, and up to the present day in Eastern Orthodox icons. Other angels came to be conventionally depicted in long robes.

Medieval art[edit]

Medieval depictions of angels borrow from the Byzantine. In the French Hours of Anne of Brittany, Gabriel wears a dalmatic.[14] In the later Middle Ages they often wear the vestments of a deacon, a cope over a dalmatic, especially Gabriel in Annunciation scenes - for example The Annunciation by Jan van Eyck. This indicated that, for all their powers, they could not perform the Eucharist, and were in this respect outranked by every priest, reinforcing the prestige of the clergy. In Early Christian art white robes were almost invariably adopted, sometimes bound with the "golden girdle" of Revelation. During the mediæval period senior angels were often clad in every brilliant colour,[15] while junior ranks wore white. Early Renaissance painters such as Jan van Eyck and Fra Angelico painted angels with multi-colored wings. Depictions of angels came to combine medieval notions of beauty with feminine ideals of grace and beauty, as in da Panicale's 1435 Baptism of Christ.[3]

Renaissance art[edit]

Fra Angelico, The Annunciation, 1437-46

The classical erotes or putto re-appeared in art during the Italian Renaissance in both religious and mythological art, and is often known in English as a cherub, the singular of cherubim, actually one of the higher ranks in the Christian angelic hierarchy. They normally appear in groups and are generally given wings in religious art, and are sometimes represented as just a winged head. They generally are just in attendance, except that they may be amusing Christ or John the Baptist as infants in scenes of the Holy Family.

Victorian art[edit]

In the late 19th century artists' model Jane Burden Morris came to embody an ideal of beauty for Pre-Raphaelite painters. With the use of her long dark hair and features made somewhat more androgynous, they created a prototype Victorian angel which would appear in paintings and stained glass windows. Roger Homan notes that Edward Burne-Jones and others used her image often and in different ways, creating a new type of angel.[16]

Islamic art[edit]

Angel in a Mughal miniature, in the style of Bukhara, 16th century

Angels in Islamic art often appear in illustrated manuscripts of Muhammad's life. Other common depictions of angels in Islamic art include angels with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, angels discerning the saved from the damned on the Day of Judgement, and angels as a repeating motif in borders or textiles.[17] Islamic depictions of angels resemble winged Christian angels, although Islamic angels are typically shown with multicolored wings.[17] Angels, such as the archangel Gabriel, are typically depicted as masculine, which is consistent with God's rejection of feminine depictions of angels in several verses of Quran.[18] Nevertheless, later depictions of angels in Islamic art are more feminine and androgynous.[17]

Angels in manuscripts[edit]

The 13th century book Ajā'ib al-makhlūqāt wa gharā'ib al-mawjūdāt (The Wonders of Creation) by Zakariya al-Qazwini describes Islamic angelology, and is often illustrated with many images of angels. The angels are typically depicted with bright, vivid colors, giving them unusual liveliness and other-worldly translucence.[19] While some angels are referred to as "Guardians of the Kingdom of God," others are associated with hell. An undated manuscript of The Wonders of Creation from the Bavarian State Library in Munich includes depictions of angels both alone and alongside humans and animals.[20] Angels are also illustrated in Timurid and Ottoman manuscripts, such as The Timurid Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascension (Mir'ajnama) and the Siyer-i Nebi'.[21]

Angels in heaven and hell[edit]

Zabaniya and the punishment of hypocrites (cutting of flesh) from The Timurid Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascension, c. 1436.
Manuscript of the Annals of al-Tabari depicting Iblis, the angels and Adam. Topkapı Sarayı in Istanbul.

The Qur'an makes multiple references to angels. These angels take on both active and passive roles in Quranic stories. In the story of the creation of Adam, God announces to the angels that he intends to create man. The angels act as witnesses to this announcement and subsequent creation of Adam. Although there are many versions of the story, Islamic sources relate that God used the creation of Adam as a punishment or test for the angels. Therefore, the role of angels is often described as in opposition to man.[22]

Another angel-like creature mentioned in the Qu'ran (4:97, 32:11) is the zabāniya. A zabāniya is a black angel of hell that brings souls of sinners down to hell to punish them and can be seen in illustrations of The Timurid Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascension (c. 1436 A.D.). There are nineteen zabāniya, led by Mālik, an angel considered to be the master of fire or the gatekeeper of hell.[23] Mālik's and zabāniya's categorizations as angels are debated as some believe they are better described as spirits or demons. Actually, portrayal of Zabaniyya shares many traits characteristical for demons in Islamic arts.[24] As seen in The Timurid Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascension, Muhammad is greeted by Mālik and later witnesses the torture of sinners carried out by the zabāniya.[21]

Similar, the fallen angel Iblis is shown during his moment of refusal to prostrate himself before the newly created Adam, leading to his banishment to the bottom of hell. He is depict as black skinned monstreous creature with horns and flaming eyes, in contrast to the presentation of the noble angels. Only his wings remain as a sign of his former angelic status, however with burned edges.[25]

Angels associated with Muhammad[edit]

Muhammad beside al-Buraq, which holds a closed book in its hands while its tail appears to transform into an angel wielding a shield and a sword, is approached by two angels, one of whom holds a gold cup on a platter from Jami al-Tawarikh (The Compendium of Chronicles), c. 1307.

Although depictions of Muhammad are often forbidden, the few that exist often include images of angels. Specifically, the Archangel Gabriel is frequently shown alongside the prophet.[26] For example, in The Timurid Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascension, the Archangel Gabriel appears to the Prophet Muhammad in Mecca to announce his ascension.[21] Kneeling before Muhammad, Gabriel is shown with colorful wings and a crown. Later in The Timurid Book, Muhammad is shown with Gabriel meeting a group of angels in heaven. In the Jami' al-tawarikh, a Persian history from the 14th century, Muhammad is depicted beside al-Buraq, whose tail is transformed into an angel, while two other angels approach.[21] A 16th-century Ottoman manuscript of Siyer-i Nebi, a Turkish epic about the life of Muhammad, also includes many depictions of the prophet alongside angels.[26]

Galleries of Angels[edit]

Christian art[edit]

Islamic art[edit]

  • A page from 'The Wonders of Creation and the Oddities of Existence' - Egypt/Syria c.1375-1425 AD

  • Persian Miraj image from 1539–43, reflecting Muhammad surrounded by angels.

  • Kneeling angel, Bukhara School (circa 1555-1560)

  • Angels witnessing the creation of Adam, Persian miniature (c. 1560).

  • Image of an angel with animals from The Wonders of Creation, circa 1650-1700. (held in the Bavarian State Library)

  • Carpet fragment depicting angels, Safavid dynasty, early 16th century.

  • Persian miniature depicting Adam honored by angels (c. 1560).

  • Fragment of sculpture from Konya city walls, c. 1220-1221.

  • Muhammad advancing on Mecca, with the angels Gabriel, Michael, Israfil and Azrail. (Siyer-i Nebi, 16th century)

  • Muhammad at the Battle of Badr. (Siyer-i Nebi, 16th century)

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Wood, Alice. Of Wing and Wheels: A Synthetic Study of the Biblical Cherubim. pp. 2–4. ISBN 978-3-11-020528-2.
  2. ^ "Because angels are purely spiritual creatures without bodies, there is no sexual difference between them. There are no male or female angels; they are not distinguished by gender.", p. 10, "Catholic Questions, Wise Answers", Ed. Michael J. Daley, St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2001, ISBN 0867163984, 9780867163988. See also Catholic Answers, which gives the standard, unchanged, Catholic position.
  3. ^ a b Gorgievski, Sandra. Face to Face with Angels: Images in Medieval Art and in Film, McFarland (2010) ISBN 9780786457564
  4. ^ a b Longhurst S.T.D., Christopher Evan. "The Science of Angelology in the Modern World: The Revival of Angels in Contemporary Culture", The Catholic Response, Volume IX, No.2, September/October 2012 (pp. 32-36) ISSN 1553-0221
  5. ^ "Angels Exist But Have No Wings, Says Church", Skye News, 20 December 2013
  6. ^ Everson, David. "Gabriel Blow Your Horn! - A Short History of Gabriel within Jewish Literature", Xavier University, December 2009 Archived 28 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ a b Marshall, Peter and Walsham, Alexandra (editors). Angles in the Early Modern World, p. 5, Cambridege University Press (2006), ISBN 9780521843324
  8. ^ Proverbio(2007), pp. 81-89; cf. review in La Civiltà Cattolica, 3795-3796 (2–16 August 2008), pp. 327-328.
  9. ^ Hassett, Maurice. "Early Christian Representations of Angels." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 25 Dec. 2013
  10. ^ Proverbio(2007) p. 66
  11. ^ Proverbio(2007) p. 34
  12. ^ Proverbio(2007), pp. 90-95; cf. review in La Civiltà Cattolica, 3795-3796 (2–16 August 2008), pp. 327-328.
  13. ^ a b Brown, Amelia R., "Painting the Bodiless: Angels and Eunuchs in Byzantine Art and Culture", University of Queensland (2007)
  14. ^ Andre, J. Lewis. "The Icons and Emblems of the Holy Angels", The Belfry: Quarterly Papers on Art, History and Archaeology, No. III, Burns & Oates, London, October 1876,
  15. ^ Vinycomb, John. Fictitious and Symbolic Creatures in Art, p.30, Chapman and Hall, London(1909)
  16. ^ Homan, Roger. "Jane Burden: How a Pre-Raphaelite model changed our image of angels", The Social Affairs Unit, 14 October 2005
  17. ^ a b c Blair, Sheila (1991). Images of Paradise in Islamic Art. Dartmouth College: Hood Museum of Art. p. 36.
  18. ^ Ali, Mualana Muhammad. The Holy Qur'an. pp. 149–150.
  19. ^ "The Wonders of Creation". www.wdl.org. 1750. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  20. ^ "The Wonders of Creation". www.wdl.org. 1750. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  21. ^ a b c d Gruber, Christiane J. (2008). The Timurid "Book of Ascension" (Micrajnama): A Study of the Text and Image in a Pan-Asian Context. Patrimonia. p. 254
  22. ^ Chipman, Leigh N. B (2002). "Adam and the Angels: An Examination of Mythic Elements in Islamic Sources". Arabica. 49: 429–455 – via JSTOR.
  23. ^ Lange, Christian (2016). "Revisiting Hell's Angels in the Quran". Locating Hell in Islamic Traditions: 74–100 – via JSTOR.
  24. ^ Sheila Blair, Jonathan M. Bloom The Art and Architecture of Islam 1250-1800 Yale University Press 1995 ISBN 978-0-300-06465-0 page 62
  25. ^ Mittman, Asa Simon; Dendle, Peter (2017). "6". the Ashgate Research Companion to Monsters and the Monstrous. Routledge.
  26. ^ a b Blair, Sheila S. (1991). Images of paradise in Islamic art. Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College. ISBN 0944722083. OCLC 611668403.

References[edit]

  • Proverbio, Cecilia (2007). La figura dell'angelo nella civiltà paleocristiana. Assisi, Italy: Editrice Tau. ISBN 88-87472-69-6.
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