The Mentor: Angels in Art, Vol. 1, Num. 40

The essay surveys the depiction of angels in visual art, tracing their origin from ancient winged deities and Greek Victory through Roman cupids, which Christians adapted into cherubs and ministering angels. It describes how medieval and Renaissance painters transformed pagan forms into emotive, humanized celestial figures, distinguishing seraphim (fiery, closest to God) and cherubim (blue-robed, of knowledge), and shows putti and musical angelic groups in devotional scenes. It discusses ministering and guardian angels in biblical episodes and outlines the named archangels such as Michael and Raphael, noting artistic conventions of color, wings, and ornamentation that convey spiritual roles.