The Angel

The Adoration of the Child – detail of a painting by Fra Bartolomeo.
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An angel can be seen on this detail. As a supernatural being, he cannot be assigned a gender.
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The facial features are rather fine, the hair is curly and thick – proverbial angel hair – on the muscular neck we see the veins protruding like those of a (modern) trained young man.
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In the painting, the angel is holding John the Baptist, who is also considered a pioneer of Jesus and is also the patron saint of Florence.
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Christmas – shortly after the winter solstice – has many meanings for me personally.
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With the winter solstice, light returns. – That always brightens my mood.
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Raised in the Christian-Catholic faith, Christmas is also associated with something supernatural and a miracle:
Jesus is born. The Son of God becomes man. This also brings light into the world, so to speak.
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The present is characterized by violence, war and a progressive and increasing destruction of our already seriously ill planet, mostly caused by the greed of individual people for even more wealth and power.
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What the Earth and people urgently need is peace and the will to act together for the good of our planet and all of humanity.
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About the painting:
“Adoration of the Child” (ca. 1493) – detail
Artist: Fra Bartolomeo (*1472 Prato, Italy – †1517, Florence, Italy) Dimensions: 99.1 x 98.6 cm, material: poplar wood,
Location: Bavarian State Painting Collections – Alte Pinakothek Munich
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Photo: Peter J. Spoerer © – All rights reserved