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Gloria
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Dewing’s small, densely packed composition of four singing angels alludes to depictions of angels playing musical instruments found in 14th-century medieval manuscripts. Angels were traditionally shown playing stringed instruments, whose delicate tones were thought to lift the mind to spiritual matters. The harp, as depicted here, was the instrument most closely associated with heavenly music. With the continuous circling of halos and harps, Dewing suggested a hypnotic, celestial melody.
| Artist / Maker | Thomas Wilmer Dewing |
|---|---|
| Date | 1884 |
| Culture / Origin | America |
| Medium | gouache over graphite |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 30.8 x 27.8 cm (12 1/8 x 10 15/16 in.); Image: 27 x 23 cm (10 5/8 x 9 1/16 in.) |
| Department | Drawings |
| Type | Drawing |
About the Artist
Thomas Wilmer Dewing (American, 1851–1938) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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Sheet of Sketches (recto)