August 16th, 2009 by Kathleen
Botticelli angels are some of the loveliest in all of Italian Renaissance art. Their faces are beautiful and innocent, painted by the same master who created the iconic Botticelli Venus, rising from the sea on a shell.
This angel, a detail from a painting of the coronation of Mary, has the typical reddish gold hair and beautiful face. Notice that the wings are golden brown, probably so that they would fade into the background. The angel wears a sumptuous renaissance garment with a gold lace collar—something only very wealthy people could afford at that time.
The expression of awe and devotion on the face of the angel still inspires us today, as it must have when it was painted, between 1488 and 1490.
True inspiration from the angels—What a blessing!
Angel, from the “Coronation of the Virgin,” circa 1488-90 (Detail) Giclee Print
Botticelli,…
18 in. x 24 in.
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July 5th, 2009 by Kathleen
Annunciation angels were among the most popular subjects for angel art during the Italian Renaissance. There seem to be more of them than any other angels in classical Renaissance Christian religious art.
In this painting by Garofalo, an angel announces to the virgin, Mary, that she is to give birth to a holy child. Notice that the rather muscular-looking angel wears colored garments, though his wings appear to be white.
Compare this painting to other Annunciation angel paintings from early Renaissance, in which the angels often have small bird wings of various natural colors.
Garofalo painted during the Italian High Renaissance era, ca. 1481-1559. He was also known as Benvenuto Tisi or Tisio. Garofalo studied under Rafael. His own students included Girolamo da Carpi.
The Annunciation Giclee Print
Garofalo
18 in. x 24 in.
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June 21st, 2009 by Kathleen
This angel of peace in a painting by Netherlandish (Dutch) painter Hans Memling has a sweet, serene face, a white robe, and small white wings. Interestingly he also has a black pouch slung over his shoulder. What is in it?
The angel holds an olive branch, representing peace, contrasts dramatically with a gold background.
Hans Memling, also known as Hans Memlinc (ca. 1435-1494), was a Northern Renaissance painter in what is now the Netherlands. He studied under Rogier van der Weyden. His own students included Gerard David and Michel Sittow.
Such beauty and inspiration from the past are a true blessing.
Angel Holding an Olive Branch Giclee Print
Memling, Hans
18 in. x 24 in.
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March 15th, 2009 by Kathleen
This annunciation angel by Spanish painter Juan de Borgona has stylized black and white wings and an interesting Renaissance garment with a tight waist.
Notice that the virgin Mary wears the black habit of a nun. Many of the features of the old religious paintings were symbolic. No attempt was made to be historically accurate, and the information about the clothing and customs of Biblical times was unavailable anyway.
Mary is usually shown amid sumptuous Renaissance furnishings such as those that probably surrounded the wealthy patrons and princes of the Church who paid for the paintings.
Still, we are blessed that someone provided the money to create such beautiful and inspiring art and left it for us to enjoy.
The Annunciation Giclee Print
Borgona, Juan de
18 in. x 24 in.
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November 15th, 2008 by Kathleen
Virgin with Angels, painted by William Bougereau in 1900, depicts the beautiful white-robed, white-winged angels that most of us expect. Bougereau’s angels have sweet faces and generally look like pretty young girls.
As you will see in other articles, angels have been depicted in many different guises over the centuries. Medieval and Renaissance angels were often shown in very expensive, aristocratic clothing worn by the wealthiest people of the artist’s time period and region.
The fabrics were rich and often quite heavy looking. The colors were intense and often quite deep. Often the garments appear to be embroidered with gold and gems.
In contrast to Bougereau’s delicate angels, often the angels in Medieval and Renaissance art appear to be male and wear solemn, even stern, facial expressions. In the customs of the time, some of them were probably modeled on the children or protogees of the artists’ wealthy patrons.
Even more startling are depictions of the avenging angels wearing metal armor and brandishing swords.
And that’s just in Europe! In the future I hope to show examples of angels from other cultures, in beautiful images that may look very unfamiliar to western eyes.
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