The earliest artistic interpretation of an angel was found in the Catacomb of Priscilla, a quarry used for Christian burials in the 3rd century. In one of the catacomb's chambers, … See more

Medieval artists adopted the Byzantine interpretation of angels, incorporating them into their gold-ground paintings. Often, these flying subjects can be seen floating in the backgr… See more

During the Early Renaissance, artists continued to incorporate angels in their paintings. Unlike medieval portrayals, however, these figures began to look less ethereal an… See more

Inspired by the realism of the Renaissance, Neoclassical artists painted naturalistic angels. Rendered as both Cupid-esque cherubs and beautiful female figures, these angels evo… See more

In the 20th century, artists continued looking to the high heavens for inspiration. Jewish modernist Marc Chagallregularly incorporated angels into his work, citing his lifelong inte… See more