Two Angels (Cherubs) 1892

Timothy Cole created this engraving, Two Angels, sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The cherubs, framed with halos, carry scrolls marked with text, symbols of divine knowledge and messengers of God. But let us consider how these winged putti, these symbols of innocent love and divine messengers, have evolved. In ancient Greece, winged figures like Eros embodied passion. Over time, especially in the Renaissance, they transformed into cherubic angels, often seen in religious contexts. Think, for instance, of Raphael’s cherubs at the bottom of the Sistine Madonna. These chubby, playful figures have become a pervasive motif, adorning everything from sacred art to Valentine's Day cards. There is something eternally appealing about these figures. Perhaps it touches our deepest longing for innocence and a connection to the divine, a visual echo resonating across centuries.