BLAKE AND THE ANGELS

I have never found Blake's poetry as compelling as his art. Last year I tried to read a biography of him. A dissenter from the English church, he seemed an interesting character, but not so much so that I could finish more than half of the scholarly work about him. But

his art--his angels are superb.

Wrestling angels. Wrestling demons. Jacob wrestled an angel. For a blessing?
The Bible sometimes has some odd stories. You get stories about some ancient King, etc. holding onto 126 grains of sand or seven cubits of goose down. No, not making fun of the Bible, just saying. Sometimes I don't understand how specific the stories are

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Angels for Angels--A new blog

Heavens... are you telling me that I have ignored this opportunity to post pictures of angels for so long?

Gozzoli

Angels are a big thing these days. I worked with a woman who left a flashlight on at work so the angels could find her. Okay, I am not going there. 

Angels, both dark and light, are of incredible beauty, and their images perhaps offer hope. Of course, one must realize that Satan is a fallen angel. Nevertheless, many cultures and religions feature angels. So here we go. Some of these I have seen in person, many I have not. 

Ecstasy of St. Theresa, Bernini. Florence.

Lassaut at the D'Orsay.

Martini's Annunciation at the Uffizi in Florence. Note the Madonna's expression as she receives the news that she will give birth to the son of God.

Thayer 1889. 

Angel on left is by DaVinci. Done when he was "training."

Uccello

Giotto.

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DaVinci. Annuciation. If I remember, the wings were elongated possibly by a different artist. Also, in this, the perspective is off. Mary's extended right arm is impossibly long. Still extraordinary.