Between heaven and earth : the symbolism of the angelic realm, with reference to Christian art

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine two significant symbolic systems relevant to the meaning of angels in Christian art. In the first part, a brief overview of Christian angelology is given in order to contextualise the close link between Christian art and angelology. The belief in angels, as well as the ways in which they have been depicted was shaped by means of various influences found in winged antique prototypes. The belief in beings existing in the intermediary realm between heaven and earth originated more than two millennia before CE [common era]. In this regard the research focuses on the influence of Egyptian, Babylonian, Sumerian and Persian belief systems and more especially on the way in which figures depicted with wings were assimilated in the iconography of Christian art. The vertical movement and flamelike, mystical being of angels became distinctive motifs in Italian Renaissance art. The second part of the article is devoted to the angelic hierarchy which was conceived and represented as a remarkably geometric system. In conclusion, reasons are proposed for the disappearance of angels from Western art.

Die doel met hierdie artikel is om twee belangrike sisteme wat op die betekenis van engele in Christelike kuns betrekking het te ondersoek. In die eerste deel word 'n bondige uiteensetting van die Christelike engeleleer gegee ten einde die noue verband tussen Christelike kuns en leerstellings insake engele te kontekstualiseer. Die geloof in engele, sowel as die wyses waarop hulle afgebeeld is, is beinvloed deur verskeie antieke prototipes van gevlerkte figure. Die geloof in wesens wat in 'n sfeer tussen die hemel en die aarde sou bestaan het, het sy oorsprong meer as twee millenia voor ons gemeenskaplike era. In hierdie verband is Egiptiese, Babiloniese, Sumeriese en Persiese geloofstelsels ondersoek, en daar is veral klem gele op die wyse waarop figure met vlerke in die ikonografie van Christelike kuns geassimileer is. Die vertikale beweging en vlamagtige, mistieke verskyningsvorme van engele is tipies van die wyse waarop hulle as motiewe in Italiaanse Renaissancekuns voorgestel is. Die tweede deel van die artikel handel oor die engelehierargie wat as 'n merkwaardige geometriese stelsel gekonsipieer en voorgestel is. Ten slotte word daar redes aangevoor vir die verdwyning van engele uit die Westerse kuns.

ai2010