Hauptkirche Sankt Michaelis # 1
Stained glass window in St. Michael's Church in Hamburg, Germany.
Flickr buddy Seth www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandcloves/ sheds some light on the scene :
Beautiful picture! I don't think it's a biblical scene exactly, more an allegorical treatment of Christian themes: the angels are both treading on serpents which is classic imagery from Genesis (although in Catholic circles usually a motif presented with Mary), one holds a crown of thorns as reference to the Passion and the other what looks like a crown of roses (?) which I suppose would be a reference to the Resurrection. The descent of the Holy Spirit as a dove recalls the baptism of Christ as well as Pentecost, and the ship is a traditional symbol of the Church itself. The rays of light and pillars in the middle recalls the descent of the New Jerusalem in Revelations. So in a way it's a visual catechism (in good stained glass window form) about salvation history.
Hauptkirche Sankt Michaelis # 1
Stained glass window in St. Michael's Church in Hamburg, Germany.
Flickr buddy Seth www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandcloves/ sheds some light on the scene :
Beautiful picture! I don't think it's a biblical scene exactly, more an allegorical treatment of Christian themes: the angels are both treading on serpents which is classic imagery from Genesis (although in Catholic circles usually a motif presented with Mary), one holds a crown of thorns as reference to the Passion and the other what looks like a crown of roses (?) which I suppose would be a reference to the Resurrection. The descent of the Holy Spirit as a dove recalls the baptism of Christ as well as Pentecost, and the ship is a traditional symbol of the Church itself. The rays of light and pillars in the middle recalls the descent of the New Jerusalem in Revelations. So in a way it's a visual catechism (in good stained glass window form) about salvation history.