Archangel Drawing a Sword 1825 - 1886

Eduard Jakob von Steinle made this watercolor and graphite drawing of an archangel in the 19th century. Von Steinle would have prepared a detailed drawing in graphite, and then applied thin washes of watercolor to build up color and form. The delicate layering of these washes gives the angel a luminous, ethereal quality, almost as if he is emerging from the heavens. Von Steinle was part of a group of German artists who sought to revive the spiritual values of the Middle Ages through their art. This interest in medieval techniques extended to his working methods. Watercolor was the favored medium of artists who made studies for frescoes, the favored medium for painting church interiors during the Middle Ages. Look closely and you will see that Steinle incorporated text on the angel's shield, a quotation from the Bible, which translates to 'Who is like God?' The phrase underscores the labor and skill in the making of the work and its spiritual intent.