By Jill Lowe
“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Alexander Pope (1688–1744) penned this line in or around 1711 at age 22 . It comes from one of his earliest pieces which he published anonymously and titled An Essay on Criticism.
Aside from the literary quotes and the movies prompted by quotes, the spotlight on angels enables us to focus on the plethora of angels in so many aspects of our culture.
It is said that angels are powerful spiritual beings who serve God. The word angel is derived from the greek word angelos which broadly means messenger, and so interpretations of angels usually incorporates some aspect of the notion of messenger.
While angels are prominent in Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), not all other religions feature them. Some like Hinduism, have divine or semi-divine beings that fulfill similar roles but are not explicitly called “angels”.
Additionally, Buddhism and Taoism, while having a various and rich pantheon of spiritual beings, do not have a direct equivalent to angels.
Angels in Art
Seraphim, cherubim, ophanim, archangels, and myriad other angels that form angelic hierarchies have been depicted in art throughout the centuries. Angels, the radiant and winged messengers of God are portrayed as guardians of humankind, and convey a message that “goodness will prevail”
and justice will eventually triumph over injustice, mediating between God and man with the angel wings symbolising the power to bridge this gulf.
Angels first appeared in fourth-century Byzantine art. Wholly Greek in origin, they recall the flying deities of the Classical world. By the fifth century, radiant nimbi (halos) surround angels’ heads creating an archetypal image which has survived in the present day.
The radiant nimbi (halo) on an angel in a niche in the town wall in northern Spain
Radiant Nimbi – Halos
The idea of halos originates from ancient Near Eastern and greek cultures, where sun deities and rulers were depicted with radiating discs or solar crowns symbolizing divine glory and power. This symbol then spread to the art of ancient Iran, with Zoroastrianism’s concept of Kjvareneh (divine radiance) influencing depictions of royalty and deities like Mithras. The concept was adopted and adapted by various Eastern religions, such as Buddhism, and later integrated into Roman and Christian art as a symbol of sanctity, eventually becoming a universal religious symbol of divinity.
prominent radiant nimbi
Some examples of angels in art follow.
Virgin and Child crowned by Angels by Colijn de Coter – c1490 – central panel from a tryptich housed at The Art Institute of Chicago
Portion of painting “The Fallen Angel” by Hugo Simberg 1903. Housed at the Ateneum Art Museum Helsinki Finland
The Annunciation by Petrus Christus, circa 1450. Housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York.
Stevenson Memorial– a tribute to Robert Louis Stevenson by Abbott Handerson Thayer 1903. Housed at the Smithsonian
Christ in the Sepulchre, Guarded by Angels by William Blake circa 1805 V & A Museum. London
Fra Angelico’s Annunciation
Below is not his first or only Annunciation painting but likely the most known depicting the Archangel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary.
Note the elaborate wings of archangel Gabriel.
At the top of a staircase from the inner cloister of what was a monastery, now a museum, is Fra Angelico’s fresco Annunciation, 1438–45 (San Marco, Florence)
Angels in Literature
Angels are prominent figures in literature across genres and cultures, appearing in religious texts as messengers of God, In fiction, angels can be symbols of hope, such as in Sally Rippin’s novel Angel Creek, or complex characters like Aziraphale in Good Omens. Literature also explores fallen angels, angelic hybrids, and even a character’s angelic conscience represented as a shoulder angel.
When one hears “angel on your shoulder”, it is a metaphotical representation of that inner voice encouraging one to make the moral or ethical choice, often set against the temptation of the opposite less virtuous choice.
This concept of good and evil influences surrounding a person can be traced back to illustrations as early as the 15th century, appearing in literature, such as in Christopher Marlowe’s play Doctor Faustus, which features a Good Angel and an Evil Angel advising the protagonist.
A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel García Márquez, 1955 is the story is a magical-realist allegory that follows the arrival of a decrepit angel in a small coastal town.
The Screwtape Letters by C S Lewis deals with temptation, moral struggle, the nature of good and evil.
Angel Statuary in Cemeteries and Basilica
There are enormous numbers of angels in cemeteries, churches, basilica, cathedrals, and sometimes on secular structures such as bridges. Some are very well known and others part of the public square.
In the USA, in Savannah Georgia is a cemetery prolific with beautiful angel statuary.
It is very close to the Wormslow Historic stite in Savannah, Georgia with its tree lined avenue, and the very beautiful cemetery Bonaventure Cemetery contains plenty of angels. Here follow examples of such.
Bonaventure cemetery Savannah Georgia.
Child angel with shell, Bonaventure cemetery Savannah
Elsewhere in USA
Atop the Cathedral St Paul, Minnesota
Angel at Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland California.
Photo courtesy and kind permission of Edna Bingham
Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery
This angel at Graceland Cemetery is well known. Tomb of William Kimball
In the grounds of Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo
Eugene Field Memorial – “Dream lady” in Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago
In London UK
In Italy
Angel in Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa
One of the angels at Ponte Sant’ Angelo bridge in Rome, Italy Angel with the Lance by Domenico Guidi.
In Portugal
Winged statue in Alcobaca Monastery, Portugal
Elsewhere in the world
Angels in our culture
Some 130 movies feature angels or are about angels
Here are a few:-
I married an Angel
Angels in the Outfield
The Angel and the Woman
The Angel
Almost an Angel
When Angels come to town
Angels in Notting Hill
Wings of desire
Dogma
The Bishop’s Wife
The Prophecy
The ubiquitous angel in nativity pageants
The City of Los Angeles
The city’s full original name was “El Pueblo de la Reina de los Angeles,” which means “The Town of the Queen of the Angels.” The name was given by Spanish settlers in 1781.
The Los Angeles “Angels” baseball team is nicknamed “The Halos.”
Special Flower Festival with the “Angel Trumpeter”
In 1995, to celebrate a renewal of church buildings of Christ Church Deer Park Toronto, the Garden Club of Toronto garbed the church proper in an exquisite floral display. The festival was entitled “God who touches earth with beauty”, taken from the hymn written by Canadian Mary Susanne Edgar in 1925 .
This“Angel Trumpeter”attached to the lectern, constructed almost entirely of flowers, was the showcase of the magnificent floral displays throughout the church.
Angels have the connotation of elevating our human existence and that notion is carried through after death, in statuary, and paintings. Providing enourmous opportunities for artists in medieval times or contemporary, angels prevail in many walks of life.
Angels and ministers of grace defend us.
William Shakespeare
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Photo of Jill by Joe Mazza, Bravelux inc.
Photos copyright © 2025Jill Lowe. All rights reserved
Images from Shutterstock license
