Artwork
And the Angel Took the Censer
And the Angel Took the Censer is a print by the Impressionist artist Odilon Redon. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
And the Angel Took the Censer is a lithograph from Odilon Redon's final portfolio of 11, directly illustrating passages from the Book of Revelation. This work marks a departure from Redon's typical vague textual references, instead offering explicit interpretations of biblical scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a pivotal moment from Revelation, featuring an angel swinging a golden censer amidst swirling, smoky clouds. The subject aligns Redon with historical masters like Albrecht Dürer, who also explored apocalyptic themes. The image conveys a sense of urgency, despite the angel's softly rendered, almost ethereal face.
Technique & Style
Redon employed a more restrained approach in this series, akin to traditional Bible illustrations, differing from his usual dreamy and loose style. The piece showcases *sfumato*, a technique characterized by soft, hazy effects, contributing to the work's quiet, spooky atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Published by Ambroise Vollard, Redon's established dealer, this portfolio capitalized on the artist's reputation and expanded his market in Paris and internationally, roughly a year into their collaborative promotion.
Context
Created within the framework of a long artistic tradition of illustrating the Book of Revelation, Redon's work engages with a subject explored by numerous artists throughout history, from Dürer to his contemporaries.
Legacy
While the specific legacy of 'And the Angel Took the Censer' within Redon's oeuvre is not distinctly outlined in available information, the portfolio as a whole contributes to the broader appreciation of Redon's versatility in exploring religious themes through lithography.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Bertrand-Jean Redon on 20 April 1840 in Bordeaux, the artist adopted the name Odilon from his mother, Marie-Odile.
And Another Angel Came Out of the Temple which is in Heaven, and He also Having a Sharp Sickle
And I Saw in the Right Hand of Him that Sat on the Throne a Book Written within and on the Backside, Sealed with Seven Seals
And a Large Bird, Descending from the Sky, Hurls Itself against the Topmost Point of Her Hair
And He Had in His Right Hand Seven Stars; and Out of His Mouth Went a Sharp Two-Edged Sword
Princess Maleine (The Little Madonna)
And the Devil That Deceived Them was Cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, Where the Beast and the False Prophet Are
In My Dream I Saw in the Sky a Face of Mystery
And In the Very Disk of the Sun Shines the Face of Jesus Christ
First a Pool of Water, Then a Prostitute, the Corner of a Temple, a Soldier's Face, a Chariot with Two White, Rearing Horses
Closed Eyes
A Woman Clothed with the Sun
Upon Awakening I Saw the Goddess of the Intelligible with Her Severe and Hard Profile