Famous Angel Paintings
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The Martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria 1604
By Guido Reni
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Famous Angel paintings have been around since the third century onwards. From this moment, angels in paintings have subsequently remained enduringly popular, gracing art and the popular imagination with their ethereal presence.
Usually depicted as beautiful and serene, they can range from awe-inspiring and frightening creatures to cute cherubim with chubby cheeks and innocent faces.
Some of the greatest paintings in history depict angels. From the Italian Renaissance to the Dutch Golden Age and modern contemporary art, it’s a topic that enthralls painters and the art loving public alike.
To mark this unique art historical phenomenon, here’s your guide to some of the most famous angel paintings ever created.
Our Most Famous Angel Paintings: A Timeline
Artistic depictions of angels have incredibly early origins. As well as appearing in Medieval Illuminated manuscripts and Byzantine art, some of the earliest angles in paintings are in the “Catacomb of Priscilla”. A Christian burial site dating to the third century in Rome, this unique archaeological site contains numerous religious frescos narrating Biblical passages.
This rich tradition continued through the centuries, with Renaissance angel paintings becoming some of the most recognizable images of religious art. Unlike medieval portrayals, however, Renaissance angels began appearing in more humanized and realistic forms.
This progression accompanied the concurrent shift towards naturalism with the High Renaissance, evidenced in the art of the great masters such as Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Caravaggio.
We’ve compiled a timeline of some of our most popular angel oil painting reproductions to introduce famous angel paintings briefly.
Renaissance Angel Paintings
Sandro Botticelli, The Angel of the Annunciation (1481)
In this early Renaissance painting of angels, the Annunciation references Angel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary of her impending motherhood.
As well as a beautiful example of religious art in its own right, Botticelli’s artwork offers fascinating glimpses into popular furnishings. For instance, Mary kneels on a particularly beautiful and intricate carpet.
It’s also full of symbolism, with elements like the walled garden symbolizing Mary’s purity. Likewise, the heavenly realm on the right (full of worldly possessions) contrasts with the angelic, serene messenger on the left.
Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam (c.1512)
Forming part of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam illustrates the Biblical creation narrative. God thus breathes life into Adam, surrounded by a host of angelic forms.
Despite the straightforward narrative, debates rage as to the identity of these twelve figures.
Some argue they represent Eve and the entirety of the human race. Conversely, others believe the Virgin Mary appears beside God. Yet more alternative interpretations posit a group of heavenly beings. So perhaps it’s an art historical debate destined to remain a mystery.
Raphael, The Sistine Madonna (c.1513)
Amongst Renaissance cherub paintings, Raphael’s curious (or perhaps bored) putti are some of the most recognizable images of angels.
Pope Julius II commissioned Raphael to paint angels representing the Virgin Mary cradling the baby Jesus. Underneath, however, are two innocent yet intriguing putti.
Represented roughly the same age as Jesus, the cherubs have tousled hair, feathered wings, and adorable chubby physiques. Although their identity remains a mystery, they could be the children of Raphael’s model for the Virgin Mary.
European Paintings of Angels
Agnolo Bronzino, Venus, Cupid and Envy (1548)
As one of Bronzino’s most enigmatic and complex cupid art, this “angel” painting represents the goddess Venus. She gazes provocatively toward her son (Cupid), with both figures presented in full frontal nudity.
However, two innocent cherub figures are to the right of the painting. Harking back to Raphael’s iconic Renaissance cherub paintings, they remain uninvolved in the rest of the scene.
Despite the association with angels, the two masks at Venus’s feet suggest she and Cupid exploit lust in a thoroughly un-angelic and deceptive manner.
El Greco, The Annunciation (c.1596)
Taking the same theme as Botticelli but completely modernizing the approach, El Greco’s Annunciation is a rare and distinctive example of angels in paintings.
In vertical format, this Spanish Renaissance painting of angels is a swirling composition, and ghostly light enhances the otherworldly aspect of the angelic characters.
Painted with highly expressive features and intensely contrasting tones, it’s a perfect example of El Greco’s highly individual style in the latter stages of his artistic career.
Rembrandt van Rijn, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel (1659)
Jacob Wrestling the Angel is a theme used by many artists. This depiction is one of the most famous and best-loved examples of Rembrandt's Angel paintings.
Rembrandt’s painting emphasizes the strength and power of the (female) angel against Jacob and humanity. Her white clothing and serene expression shine with a heavenly light against Jacob’s darker tunic and pained expression.
Many Christian interpretations treat the story as a man wrestling with God himself. The theme was also notably represented by Paul Gauguin in Jacob Wrestling The Angel, The Vision.
19th century paintings of Angels
Joseph M. W. Turner, The Angel Standing in the Sun (1846)
Highly unusual and expressive painting of angels, this painting (created late in Turner’s career) depicts a scene from the Old Testament.
In the artwork, the Archangel Michael brandishes his flaming sword with scenes of betrayal and murder in the foreground. In the painting, Adam and Eve mourn Abel and Judith with the headless body of Holofernes.
Painted during Turner's later years, it centers upon his concerns and worries. Turner was troubled about judgment in the afterlife. Indeed, the artist exhibited the painting with the ominous and enigmatic description: “the feast of vultures when the day is done.”
Abbott Handerson Thayer, Winged Figure (1889)
Currently displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago, Thayer’s Winged Figure is the last painting on our timeline. Moving towards the present day, it represents an angelic individual in a truly serene, peaceful manner.
Speaking of his many angel wing paintings, Thayer commented he put wings on figures to “symbolize an exalted atmosphere.” For Thayer, this negated the necessity of explaining their actions.
However, Thayer’s otherworldly idealism mixes with a sense of mass and gravity in this portrait. The artist’s extremely naturalistic investigation of the female form demonstrates his technical skill and astounding imagination.
Paintings of Nymphs and Angels:
In this introduction to famous angel paintings, we couldn’t fail to mention the work of William Adolphe Bouguereau. As a French painter inspired by Classical art and mythology, William Bouguereau’s paintings of nymphs and angels define the modern angelic imagination.
With works such as The Assault (1898), Abduction of Psyche (1895), and Le Printemps or The Return of Spring (1886), Bouguereau displays an astoundingly life-like portrayal of human and angelic forms. His exploration of the theme continued with numerous paintings of cherubs, most famously First Kiss, L’Amour et Psyché, Enfants (1890), and the beautiful yet troubling Wet Cupid.
While you may recognize the imagery, William Adolphe Bouguereau’s name isn’t that well known today. Despite this, he won high praise from contemporary impressionist artists such as Edgar Degas and Claude Monet. These legendary figures particularly admired his astounding technical proficiency and the sheer beauty of his works.
Bouguereau's angel paintings remain true heavenly masterpieces with an approach steeped in academic painterly skill and classical art.
20th century Angel Paintings
Angel painting on canvas didn’t stop with the turn of the twentieth century. Its theme artists have continually returned to, right up to the present day.
Indeed, whether it's graffiti artists such as Keith Haring, Anselm Kiefer's neo-expressionist Angel series, or Jeff Koons’ kitsch creations, angels are continuously reimagined and repurposed by modern artists.
Oil paintings range from traditional figurative depictions such as Jules-Cyrille Cave’s The Thoughtful Angel (1903) to surreal expressionist masterpieces such as Poor Angel (1939) by Paul Klee.
To conclude this overview, however, no introduction to angels in the art would be complete without mentioning Marc Chagall. In twentieth-century works such as Jacob Wrestling the Angel and Jacob’s Ladder, Chagall created some of the most iconic and imaginative portrayals of angels ever seen.
His colorful, joyful, and acrobatic angels dance around dream-like compositions in these paintings. They consequently present the deep connection between earth and heaven, good and evil, and reality and the artistic imagination, providing a fitting culmination to this endlessly fascinating theme.
Buy Famous Paintings of Angels
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So whether you’re searching for religious art, renaissance masterpieces, or modern abstract paintings, discover oil painting reproductions by some of the world's greatest artists.
