medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I apologise in advance that this is not medieval, but it does relate
to the perennial question "When did angels become female?" (My
provisional answer is in the 19th century, but after the
Pre-Raphaelites.) It is usually assumed that angels are sexless (or at
least pre-pubertal) and male-gendered. I am therefore puzzled by a
marble monument in Sherborne church, Gloucestershire, to James Lenox
Dutton (d.1776) and his wife, sculpted by Richard Westmacott the Elder
in 1791, where a winged female figure is treading (possibly
inadvertently) on an angry-looking skeleton in front of an urn and a
bas-relief medallion depicting the deceased. This is usually described
as "An Angel trampling on Death" - but the figure has one breast
exposed, which is rather unangelic, and if male would indicate
gynecomastia. I think the figure must be an allegorical
personification, but can't decide what is depicted. Could it be Fame,
Victory, History, Life or Love?
--
John Briggs
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