Survey of Angel Depictions in Western Art History
An article presents a selection of notable artworks featuring angels, spanning from the 15th to early 20th centuries. It highlights works by artists such as Bartolomé Bermejo, Fra Filippo Lippi, Jan van Eyck, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Raphael, and William-Adolphe Bouguereau. The content discusses the artistic representation of angelic hierarchies, often depicted in tiers, with archangel Gabriel frequently appearing in Annunciation scenes. Various paintings and sculptures are noted, with many held in major institutions including the National Gallery in London, the Louvre, the Hermitage, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The piece also references the artist's own works inspired by these historical depictions.
Key facts
- The article examines angel imagery across several centuries of Western art.
- It references a traditional nine-tier hierarchy of angels as depicted in religious art.
- Featured artworks include paintings from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical periods.
- Several pieces are located in prominent museums like the National Gallery, London and the Louvre.
- The author includes examples of their own art inspired by historical angel paintings.
Entities
Artists
- Bartolomé Bermejo
- Fra Filippo Lippi
- Fra Angelico
- Michelangelo Caravaggio
- Jan van Eyck
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Sandro Botticelli
- Horace Vernet
- Abbott Handerson Thayer
- Antonio Canova
- William-Adolphe Bouguereau
- François Gérard
- Raphael
- John Duncan
- Gerard David
- Hans Memling
Institutions
- National Gallery, London
- Louvre
- Hermitage
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Scottish National Gallery
Locations
- Paris
- Florence
- Rome
- Washington D.C.
- Edinburgh
- Bruges