Medieval Angels in Stained Glass
The angels created by the Norwich School of Glasspainters in the 15th Century could aptly take the title of "Medieval Babes" They portray all the attributes associated with the work of these skilled craftsmen ranging from : elegant to beautiful, delicate to powerful and graceful to resplendent.
So many survived destruction simply because, as befits their heavenly role, they were placed outside the reach of man , hovering above us high in the clerestorey.
One of the most endearing features of the angels is their apparel. They are often shown wearing feathered suits, which is how angels would have been depicted in the Mystery Plays. The result is delightful.
We have pictured some of our favourite angels - if you would like to add any more please contact us !
For further information on each section pass your cursor over the narrative to the far left. To see the angels pass your cursor over the thumbnail images.
Gabriel is one of the best known of the Archangels whose name means "The Strength of God." Gabriel is portrayed in many windows often as part of an Annunciation scene.
This is one of three Angel Gabriels appearing in the beautiful south nave window at Bale, all are part of Annunciation scenes.
This Angel Gabriel, located in a north clerestory window at Ringland Church, is part of an Annunciation scene
Arch Agel Gabriel high in the East window of St Peter Mancroft Norwich
This is one of three Angel Gabriels appearing in the beautiful south nave window at Bale, all are part of Annunciation scenes.
Musical Angels HarpsThere are many examples of angels playing instruments. They often flanked a central subject suitable to the tracery lights e.g. the Annunciation or the Coronation of the Vigin Mary. A varity of instruments are represented including : the harp, citole (a four-string instrument, with a body generally referred to as "holly-leaf" shaped) or cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back), bagpipes, cymbals and psalteries (a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family).
It thus appears that the musical instruments held by the angels tally fairly closely with with those named in Psalm 150 :
"Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him with the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals."
Here we see a selection of harp playing angels.
This harp player is one of nine angels appearing in the south nave window at Bale Church.
This gorgeous harp player located at East Barsham is definitely one of our favourite figures.
This harp playing angel from Ketteringham is part of a series of tracery lights depicting the Coronation of the Virgin.
This harp player can be found at Mulbarton.
A harp player standing on clouds, currently located at St John Timberhill Norwich.
Musical Angels StringsThere are many examples of angels playing instruments. They often flanked a central subject suitable to the tracery lights e.g. the Annunciation or the Coronation of the Vigin Mary. A varity of instruments are represented including : the harp, citole (a four-string instrument, with a body generally referred to as "holly-leaf" shaped) or cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back), bagpipes, cymbals and psalteries (a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family).
It thus appears that the musical instruments held by the angels tally fairly closely with with those named in Psalm 150 :
"Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him with the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals."
Here we picture angels playing a selection of stringed instruments.
This angel from Bale church appears to be playing a cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back) with a plectrum
This angel from St John Timberhill (Norwich) appears to be playing a cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back) with a plectrum
This Weston Longville angel appears to be playing a lute or possibly a citole (a four-string instrument, with a body generally referred to as "holly-leaf" shaped)
Norwich Guildhall angel playing psaltery
St Peter Hungate angel playing violin with a bow
Musical Angels Wind There are many examples of angels playing instruments. They often flanked a central subject suitable to the tracery lights e.g. the Annunciation or the Coronation of the Vigin Mary. A varity of instruments are represented including : the harp, citole (a four-string instrument, with a body generally referred to as "holly-leaf" shaped) or cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back), bagpipes, cymbals and psalteries (a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family).
It thus appears that the musical instruments held by the angels tally fairly closely with with those named in Psalm 150 :
"Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him with the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals."
Included in this section are bagpipe playing angels which are located at Oxborough, Shelton, Sustead and in Norwich's Guildhall.
This bagpipe player can be seen in the Norwich Guildhall
Shelton church is the home of this angel playing the bagpipes
St Peter Hungate angel playing a wind instrument
East Barsham Churvh angel playing wind instrument
Oxborough Church angel playing bagpipes
Musical Angels OrgansThere are many examples of angels playing instruments. They often flanked a central subject suitable to the tracery lights e.g. the Annunciation or the Coronation of the Vigin Mary. A varity of instruments are represented including : the harp, citole (a four-string instrument, with a body generally referred to as "holly-leaf" shaped) or cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back), bagpipes, cymbals and psalteries (a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family).
It thus appears that the musical instruments held by the angels tally fairly closely with with those named in Psalm 150 :
"Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him with the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals."
Here we see a selection of angels playing organs
This angel located at Shelton is playing an organ
Oxborough angel playing the Organ
Angels WithFeathers Some of the most delightful figures produced by the 15th century school are the “feathered” angels. They are in fact wearing a feather suit which typically fits low around the neck and finishes at the wrists / elbows and ankles/calves.
The angels normally also wear other clothing, however, where this is not the case they can be seen to be wearing a tightly fitted suit which makes it clear that the medieval painter was modelling the angles as they would have been represented in the miracle plays. The feathers may be coloured white although they are often enriched by staining some yellow thus recalling Psalm lxvIII. 13 “Though ye have lien among the pots yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver and her feathers like yellow gold."
Here we see a selection of angels, which don’t fit into the other categories represented on this page. Magnification makes it possible to see the exquisite detail which has been lavished upon them. We hope you like them as much as we do.
This feathered angel can be found at North Tuddenham
This delicate looking orange winged seraphim is located at St Peter Hungate
This lovely figure can be seen at Norwich Guildhall
This six winged angel (seraphim) can be found at Ketteringham
This is one of the beautiful angels lcated at Bale
Nine orders of AngelsThe Nine Orders of angels are divided into three hierarchies : the highest, the intermediary and the lower. In turn each hierarchy has three orders.
The highest hierarchy, is closest to the holy trinity and consists of the :
SERAPHIM : The highest order. Six winged angels who surround God’s throne. They are the angels of love light and fire.
CHERUBIM: The guardians of the fixed star, keepers of the celestial records and the bestowers of knowledge.
THRONES: Bring God’s justice to us. They are sometimes called “Wheels.”
The intermediary hierarchy consists of the:
DOMINIONS: Regulate angelic duties. They hold an orb or sceptre as an emblem of authority.
VIRTUES : Work miracles on earth. They are bestowers of grace and valour.
POWERS: Are so called because they have power over the devil.
The lowest hierarchy is made up of:
PRINCIPALITIES : Who are protectors of religion. They have command over the lower angels.
ARCHANGELS: are the heralds of good news
ANGELS: are the lowest of all the orders in the heavenly hierarch and closest to man.
This angel from East Harling is probably from a series which originally contained all of the Nine Orders
This figure from Harpley, depicts Thrones as being both blindfolded and holding scales
This figure representing Powers is called Potestates and is now located at Mulbarton church. He wears a crown and armour ready to defend our souls from the poser of the Devil
This Angel from Harpley Church is one of a pair holding books. Books representing "the knowledge of God" were often given by medieval artists to Cherubims, although there are also examples of them being held by Dominions
This feathered angel, from St Michael at Plea (Norwich) wears an ornate crown and an ermine tippet. Upon his breast is a lafge scroll whilst across his figure a scroll tells us he is a "Cherubyn"
There are many examples of feathered angels
This angel from Harpley holds a spear. Spears where used by medieval artists to illustrate the angel possibly came from a number of orders namely : cherubim, Principalities of Virtues.
This censer swinging Seraphim can be seen in the tracery lights os St Peter Mancroft's east window
This Harpley angel carrying a scroll and vial represents : Dominions, Virtues or Principalities
This feathere angel from Harpley stands on a wheel. Although Wheels are normally associated with cheubim (Ezekiel x) in the 15th century they were given to the Seraphim and other angels