Angels have always made their mark - wings and all. And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Angels have always made their mark - wings and all.
We hear and see them in various manifestations: The angels or devils on horseback, the angels on the Christmas tree, a girl and her angel wings at the Nativity play, angel delight puddings our express wishes for a ‘guardian angel’, to comments such as ‘oh darling do be an angel and get me a pint of milk’, a silence that brings the epithet ‘there is an angel flying overhead’, George Michael’s Cowboys and Angels And finally as angels in art!
And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello. Although Gabriel at the Annunciation does a little more than that.
The role that angels play in the history of western, religious art and the power they could exert to control passions and emotions and keep the Devil at bay. We will look at angels who were protectors, guardians, messengers, advisers, narrators, angels who have fallen to become Satan, and angels in important scenes from the New Testament such as at the Adoration of the Shepherds at the Nativity and at Christ’s Passion. While to some angels may appear rather dull, as we associate them with passive goodness, for example, conducting souls at times of need and death, they can also be more like humans, who have free will, roaming and flying around. This hour long lecture takes you through the life and times of an angel, not forgetting their gloriously painted wings.
What will we cover?
• The hierarchy of angels in the history of western art • Where we find angels in the history of art • The point of angels in religious belief.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Generally discuss the art and ideas around the iconography of angels • Describe the different types of images where we find angels • Learn to recognise the attributes and costume of angels.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience or study of the subject.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, pleaseclick here.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions.Please note: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Search 'Lunchtime Lectures' or 'Friday Lates' for more of our short, taster art history courses.
Emma Rose Barber is an art historian who has been teaching adults for over 25 years. She specialises in the visual culture of the Middle Ages and the Italian and Northern Renaissance. She has also taught classes on British art and has designed many different courses such as Last Suppers in Florence and Bosch, Breughel and the Surrealists. She has also given lectures on Women and Art. She used to run the history of art department at the British Institute in Florence and works for many institutions such as the Open University, Morley College and the department of continuing education at the University of Oxford. Her book – 111 Churches that you Shouldn’t Miss in London - is coming out in the autumn of 2020. She has spent the last five years with a Mini A-Z looking for churches to write about, many of which can be found on her blog – https://theitinerantchurchgoer.wordpress.com/. She is also writing a Cultural History of Wayfaring and writes articles for Selvedge Magazine.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
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And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello.003046327Angels in art1919https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/a/n/angels-in-art-vb967-1200_1.jpgInStockDaytimeTueOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-12-08T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allDec 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB9671919Angels in art191919Emma Rose Barberangels-in-art/vb967-2627Angels have always made their mark - wings and all. And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello.0000-Available|2026-12-08 00:00:00Angels have always made their mark - wings and all.<br><br>We hear and see them in various manifestations: <br>The angels or devils on horseback, <br>the angels on the Christmas tree, <br>a girl and her angel wings at the Nativity play, <br>angel delight puddings<br>our express wishes for a ‘guardian angel’, <br>to comments such as ‘oh darling do be an angel and get me a pint of milk’,<br>a silence that brings the epithet ‘there is an angel flying overhead’, <br>George Michael’s Cowboys and Angels<br>And finally as angels in art!<br><br>And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello. Although Gabriel at the Annunciation does a little more than that.<br><br>The role that angels play in the history of western, religious art and the power they could exert to control passions and emotions and keep the Devil at bay. We will look at angels who were protectors, guardians, messengers, advisers, narrators, angels who have fallen to become Satan, and angels in important scenes from the New Testament such as at the Adoration of the Shepherds at the Nativity and at Christ’s Passion. <br>While to some angels may appear rather dull, as we associate them with passive goodness, for example, conducting souls at times of need and death, they can also be more like humans, who have free will, roaming and flying around. This hour long lecture takes you through the life and times of an angel, not forgetting their gloriously painted wings.Angels have always made their mark - wings and all. And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello.• The hierarchy of angels in the history of western art<br>• Where we find angels in the history of art<br>• The point of angels in religious belief.• Generally discuss the art and ideas around the iconography of angels<br>• Describe the different types of images where we find angels<br>• Learn to recognise the attributes and costume of angels.<p>This course is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience or study of the subject.</p><p><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, please<a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11273523970845-What-is-your-City-Lit-student-IT-account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions.<strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>Search 'Lunchtime Lectures' or 'Friday Lates' for more of our short, taster art history courses.</p>Art historyIntroductory & general art history coursesvirtual191919VB967NONETue08/12/2616:00 - 17:3016:0017:301 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekdayOnlineOnlineEmma Rose BarberBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-12-08T00:00:00+00:00Dec 2026Culture, history & humanities1919Angels in artangels-in-art/vb967-2627Angels have always made their mark - wings and all. And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello.0000-Available|2026-12-08 00:00:00Angels have always made their mark - wings and all.<br><br>We hear and see them in various manifestations: <br>The angels or devils on horseback, <br>the angels on the Christmas tree, <br>a girl and her angel wings at the Nativity play, <br>angel delight puddings<br>our express wishes for a ‘guardian angel’, <br>to comments such as ‘oh darling do be an angel and get me a pint of milk’,<br>a silence that brings the epithet ‘there is an angel flying overhead’, <br>George Michael’s Cowboys and Angels<br>And finally as angels in art!<br><br>And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello. Although Gabriel at the Annunciation does a little more than that.<br><br>The role that angels play in the history of western, religious art and the power they could exert to control passions and emotions and keep the Devil at bay. We will look at angels who were protectors, guardians, messengers, advisers, narrators, angels who have fallen to become Satan, and angels in important scenes from the New Testament such as at the Adoration of the Shepherds at the Nativity and at Christ’s Passion. <br>While to some angels may appear rather dull, as we associate them with passive goodness, for example, conducting souls at times of need and death, they can also be more like humans, who have free will, roaming and flying around. This hour long lecture takes you through the life and times of an angel, not forgetting their gloriously painted wings.Angels have always made their mark - wings and all. And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello.• The hierarchy of angels in the history of western art<br>• Where we find angels in the history of art<br>• The point of angels in religious belief.• Generally discuss the art and ideas around the iconography of angels<br>• Describe the different types of images where we find angels<br>• Learn to recognise the attributes and costume of angels.<p>This course is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience or study of the subject.</p><p><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, please<a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11273523970845-What-is-your-City-Lit-student-IT-account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions.<strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>Search 'Lunchtime Lectures' or 'Friday Lates' for more of our short, taster art history courses.</p>Art historyIntroductory & general art history coursesconfigurable
11371136Introductory & general art history courseshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/introductory-general-art-history1/2/285/1177/1136/11371/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Introductory & general art history courses
