Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
ANGELS; ARE THEY MALE
or FEMALE? A DISCUSSION

while q certain number med1ated be-
tween God and man. In some respects
they were inferior to man. In an at
tempt to explain their origin a theory
has been advanced that angels are the
gods of nations which have become de-
graded Other theories identify angel
hosts with the stars. This idea had
many believers at the time when there
was considerable faith put in the in
fluence of the planets upon life.
Philo calls them "souls lowering in
the air." adding that some have de-
scended into bodies, others have not
thought fit to approach any part OF
the earth, and these hallowed and sur
rounded by the ministrations of the
Father, the Creator employs as assist
ants and ministers for the care of the
mortals."
Following the use of simple white
drapery in the painting of angels
colors, delicate azures, green's, reds
and puppies were introduced. Then
there came a period of elaboration.
The Spanish and Flemish artists de-
picted angels arrayed in long, heavy,
trailing robes embroidered and jeweled
in barbaric splendor. Later a reaction
began and painters went in for the
loose. simple flowing drapery of the
Greeks. Some of them even went back
to the Old Testament idea of wingless
angels.
Rossetti, for instance, made his "An-
nunciation" angel a slender, graceful
and youthful figure without feathered
appendages Burne-Jones is another
exponent of the simple style of angel.
Fra Angelica is said to have painted
the most feminine angels Of any of the
great masters. Though he is supposed
to have believed wholly in the man
angel, the faces of his heavenly mes
sengers, eXquisitely dainty against the
golden background of the nimbus, were
decidedly feminine.
Women Angels, Too
Now and then genuine feminine an
gels have appeared on canvas or
carved out of marble, but neither the
church nor art seems to approve of
this departure from the orthodox in
angelology. One explanation of this
oversight or willful neglect in identify
ing woman with the heavenly host is
that woman's place in the ancient
world was too unimportant for her to
have any decided influence on art. Her
inferiority to man was an accepted
fact.
She had not then become emancipat-
ed. and about all she was good for in
the eyes of the world was TO bring up
family.
People didn't call her an angel for
staying at home and minding the house
and cooking the meals. Now conditions
have changed, and If ever woman is
going to take her place in art among
the upper ones" on earth the time
seems to be ripe, provided building
committees can be won over to the
cause.
Rank among the angels was first OBJ
served in the early part of the Bible.
There the first of the archangels are
mentioned ST. Michael, the guardian
angel of Israel, was made the captain
of the archanges. His army comprised
six others of the elect in angelhood,
among whom were Gabriel, Raphael
and Uriel.
In the matter of wings both Michael
and Gabriel appear to be quite inde-
pendent. They are as often represent
ed with them as without. On account
of his fight with the demon Michael
is usually presented in full armor with
cleaning sword upraised. Raphael and
Guido REM have taught us to think
of this archangel as "A knight, while
Gabriel is seen arrayed in gorgeous
robes borne by angel pages. This arch
angel is essentially feminine and as
the angel of the Annunciation there
seems to be good reason for represents
ing Gabriel as a woman.
Next in Rank
Next TO the archangels came the
cherubim and seraphim i'm the heaven
ly hierarchy. The seraphim are sup
posed to be closest 10 the throne of
the Creator while the cherubim. who
are wiser than the seraphim, are given
special duties to perform.
In his Madonna di San Sisto, Ra-
phael represented cherubs as little
children with tiny wings. Some were
Just heads and others had arms. but