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An Angel Leading a Soul into Hell

Image credit: Wellcome Collection

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This work depicts the arrival of a naked man in hell, escorted by a winged angel clad in white. The naked man is presumed to be a soul of the dead. The damned already there are receiving horrendous tortures at the hands of monsters. The angel who accompanies the soul of the deceased to the underworld is called the psychopomp. In ancient Greco-Roman religion the psychopomp is Hermes (Mercury), but Christian doctrines are more vague on how the soul actually reaches its post-mortem destination. The event itself in some versions happens immediately after the death of an individual, while in others it happens after Judgment Day. Paintings, poems and songs have contributed as much to the idea of hell as official doctrines. Hell is depicted in mediaeval and early modern churches and cemeteries (as at Pisa) as well as on Buddhist paintings of the realm of Yama.

Title

An Angel Leading a Soul into Hell

Medium

oil on wood

Measurements

H 33.5 x W 45.5 cm

Accession number

44837i

Acquisition method

purchased by Henry S. Wellcome, c.1900–1936

Work type

Painting

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Wellcome Collection

183 Euston Road, London, Greater London NW1 2BE England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
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