The Angel of Death 1885

Evelyn De Morgan created this drawing, The Angel of Death, using graphite and gold paint. The artwork presents a subdued palette that centers the viewer on the figures and their symbolic meanings, rather than the emotional impact of color. The composition arranges the two figures – Death, rendered androgynously, and the living woman – to form a cohesive unit, connected by hands and gazes. The formal arrangement suggests a narrative of acceptance and transition. The Angel of Death is depicted with broad wings and flowing robes, acting as a comforting guide rather than a fearsome harbinger. The scythe, a conventional symbol of death, is present yet held aloft, reducing its threatening aspect. De Morgan challenges fixed meanings and softens the conventional, grim representation of death. Instead, she engages with new ways of thinking about death as a gentle transition. The drawing's aesthetic effect lies in its function as a cultural artifact that reflects Victorian society's complex relationship with mortality, and its ongoing interpretation.