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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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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January 4th, 2009 by Kathleen
January Art Print
Mccrady, Carol
6 in. x 8.3125 in.
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Gabriel is the angel for January, according to this series of old paintings of the angels for each month. But, of course, he is much more than that.
In the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), Gabriel serves as a messenger from God. He first appears in the Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible.
Although generally referred to as an archangel, Gabriel is only referred to as an angel in the Bible. In Christian tradition, he is also sometimes regarded as the angel of death.
Gabriel has appeared so much in art and literature that a host of stories have grown up about him. Many of them are so familiar that most people do not realize that they did not originate in the Bible or other sacred texts. For example, it is from John Milton’s Paradise Lost that we get the story of Gabriel as chief of the angels that guard Paradise.
Both Christians and Muslims believe that Gabriel foretold the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. In the writings of the Bahá’í Faith, Gabriel is mentioned in Bahá’u'lláh’s mystical work Seven Valleys.
Islam further teaches that God revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad through the Gabriel, and that Gabriel sent a message to most prophets, if not all, revealing their obligations. Gabriel is called the chief of the four favoured angels and the spirit of truth.
In Christianity Gabriel is most famous for announcing to the virgin Mary that she is to be the mother of Jesus. There are thousands of paintings depicting the Annunciation. Because they depict angels in so many beautiful ways, some of those paintings will be displayed on this blog from time to time.
If they uplift our spirits and inspire us to better people, then angels, angel art, angel stories and beliefs are a blessing. May you have a blessed new year.
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