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.