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Archangels were a popular subject of art from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance Period. As Angels of Presence, with the permission to enter the presence of God, the four Archangels - Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel were recognized across the religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, though mentioned very little in the canonical Gospels. Archangel statues are still present across Europe due to the popularity they received during the Renaissance era. The most well known depiction of the Archangel Michael resides in the Santa Maria della Concezione, a church commissioned by Pope Urban VIII in 1626. The work is from Renaissance painter Guido Reni, who favored the high-Baroque style which evolved from the Roman Catholic Churches edict that religious art should engage the commoner with dramatic and emotional appeal. Reni's The Archangel Michael shows the fair haired, musculatured angel with androgynous features hovering over the Devil, with his foot against the demon's head forcing him into submission. The painting depicts a scene from the book of Revelations where Archangel Michael leads an Army of Angels against the Devil and binds him for 1000 years. It is often referred to as Archangel Michael Slaying the Devil. God's Messenger Gabriel was the angel who announced to the Virgin Mary that she would have a son by God. This biblical event is referred to as The Annunciation and is a frequent subject of Renaissance art. The most famous Annuncation paintings are works by Da Vinci and Botticelli. Da Vinci's the Annunciation was painted from 1472-1475 and is credited to both Da Vinci and his mentor Andrea del Verrocchio. In the painting Archangel Gabriel kneels before Mary, a Madonna lily in hand which historians believe symbolizes Mary's virginity. Botticelli's Cestello Annunciation, commissioned in 1489, captures the same event with similar imagery. The painting is noted for its use of perspective in the tiles that lead the eye to the landscape. The artist shows Gabriel with mouth agape, to represent his words from the Gospel of Luke which were engraved into the paintings original frame. Both paintings are on exhibit at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The angel Raphael was most often painted as the guardian of Tobias, son of Tobit on his journey to recover hidden money for his blind father, a passage from the Book of Tobit. His role as god of healing and protector is emphasized in these paintings that show him leading the boy by his hand. Filippino Lippi's version of Tobias and the Angel can be seen at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. The Book of Tobit became a popular subject for Rembrandt, who embraced the story of the pious family challenged by adversity and assisted by the Archangel Raphael. Da Vinci used Archangel Uriel as the subject of two nearly identical paintings titled Virgin of the Rocks or Madonna of the Rocks. The painting displays a scene where the baby Jesus encounters his cousin John the Baptist as an infant. In the paintings, the Archangel Gabriel looks on. Subtle variations can be seen in Da Vinci's two works. In the version that hangs in the Lourve Uriel points at John. In the version of the painting exhibited in the National Gallery in London, Mary, Jesus and John are haloed. Dan' Brown's Da Vinci Code has brought controversy to these two paintings in the name of fiction, yet - art historians surmise that the original where Uriel points at John who is closest to Mary did create confusion and the second painting by Da Vinci removed Uriel's extended hand. Thinking of decorating your home with the perfect spot online to find a huge selection of ancient art? Find a museum gift that's sure to bring beauty and splendor to any home at Your Museum Store.
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