"The Angel of Splendors" by Jean Delville, Musee Fin-De-Siecle, Brussels, Belgium
Painted in 1894. Jean Delville (1867-1953) was a Belgian symbolist painter, as well as a writer and was a student of religion and spirituality. These interests are reflected in this intellectual work showing two states of metaphysical being. The shining figure floating in space is an angel--the Angel of Splendors--and symbolizes spirituality and transcendence as he points to the heavens. The other figure represents earthly materialism, symbolized by the lower part of his body trapped in brambles and ensnared by snakes. He is trying to free himself from these earthly shackles and follow the angel as this last begins the ascent to heaven.
"The Angel of Splendors" by Jean Delville, Musee Fin-De-Siecle, Brussels, Belgium
Painted in 1894. Jean Delville (1867-1953) was a Belgian symbolist painter, as well as a writer and was a student of religion and spirituality. These interests are reflected in this intellectual work showing two states of metaphysical being. The shining figure floating in space is an angel--the Angel of Splendors--and symbolizes spirituality and transcendence as he points to the heavens. The other figure represents earthly materialism, symbolized by the lower part of his body trapped in brambles and ensnared by snakes. He is trying to free himself from these earthly shackles and follow the angel as this last begins the ascent to heaven.