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Angel

This is a Flemish Masterpiece

Manufacturer

Christiaan van de Voorde (glazenier)

Period and date

15de eeuw
(circa 1400 - circa 1425)

Stained glass window with nimbed flying angel against a background of stylized geometric and floral motifs. The angel holds arms extended and hands folded.

MASTERPIECE

Ensemble of nine stained-glass windows and window fragments, dating from ca. 1400, originating from Bruges city hall. Despite the fact that the place where the stained-glass windows were produced for is secular, the figurative images are religious in nature. You can recognize the image of an angel on five of them. But if you look closely, they all look slightly different.

There are two stained-glass windows (XXII.O.0082 and XXII.O.0083) with simple angels in white glass. The other three depict two red and one golden angel, and they have not two but four or even six wings. They each hold a banderole with the inscriptions ‘SHE RA PHIN’ (XXII.O.0084), ‘PO TES TA TES’ (XXII.O.0085) and ‘CHE RU BIN’ (XXII.O.0086).

What exactly are angels? In the Christian religion, angels are God’s messengers. That is why they are depicted with wings. There are nine types of angels, with their own hierarchy and each with a specific role. For Christians, seraphim have the highest rank, they stand closest to God. Cherubim are the second highest and are characterized by their knowledge. Powers (potestas) have a lower rank and they are known for controlling evil spirits, so that they can cause less harm.

Details

Opschrift
(voorzijde): CHE RA PHIN
Dimension
geheel, height: 35 cm
geheel, width: 61.5 cm
geheel, depth: 1 cm

Identification

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Verzameling
Category
Objectnaam
Materials
Inventory number
XXII.O.0084

Linked open data

Permalink
IIIF manifest
Copyright
Musea Brugge is committed to making its data available as usable open data. Images of works of art which are not subject to copyright restrictions are therefore published under the Creative Commons Zero licence. These may be used freely.

Verwante items

Angel

Manufacturer

Christiaan van de Voorde (glazenier)

Period and date

15de eeuw
(circa 1400 - circa 1425)
Angel

Manufacturer

Christiaan van de Voorde (glazenier)

Period and date

15de eeuw
(circa 1400 - circa 1425)
Angel

Manufacturer

Christiaan van de Voorde (glazenier)

Period and date

15de eeuw
(circa 1400 - circa 1425)
Angel with a banderole, from Bruges City Hall

Manufacturer

Christiaan van de Voorde (glazenier)

Period and date

15de eeuw
(circa 1400 - circa 1425)

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