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Details / Information for Gloria

Gloria

1884

Thomas Wilmer Dewing

(American, 1851–1938)
Culture
America
Medium
gouache over graphite
Support
Beige wove paper
Measurements
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.)
Credit Line
The Fanny Tewksbury King Collection 1956.722
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

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.
A vertically oriented gouache and graphite drawing depicts four figures with light skin tones, translucent halos, and pale wings. At the bottom, an angel in a pink star-patterned robe with reddish-brown hair gazes right. Above, three overlapping figures in muted tan robes sing. Two wooden harps adorned with white flowers stand on the right. Muted blue and rose tones fill the composition, and the word "GLORIA" appears along the bottom edge.

Gloria

1884

Thomas Wilmer Dewing

(American, 1851–1938)
America

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