Angels descend to earth

For thousands of years angels have been an inspiration for artists. Painters have drawn various pictures and icons. Sculptors have created figures from different materials, and needleworkers have embroidered angels or made tapestries.

A recently opened exhibition at Moscow's Central House of Artists brings together more than five hundred winged messengers, who are painted, moulded and embroidered.  

The show features artists of various styles and backgrounds. Obviously, every artist has their own idea of how an angel should look. Although, nobody can be quite sure.

Thus, a sculptured marble lion with wings, reading psalms, neighbours an unusual Christmas tree adnorned with angels. 

Painter Sergey Grigoriev had a dream, in which an angel appeared to him. He took this as a sign and was inspired to create religious paintings. 

“I usually choose light colours and create light compositions for my angels. This makes them as natural as possible,” Sergey Grigoriev explained. 

The artist has also illustrated books on The Lives of the Saints and taken part in the restoration of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

Another arist and restorer, Kirill Sheinkman, has made sixty copies of 15th century icons. His own images of angels include ciphered messages. 

Paintings by Anna Tishchenko are more traditional. She sees these heavenly creatures as a universal symbol of everything good. Probably her idea of angels is the most usual, but this does not make them in any way less interesting.