The Angel of Death I

- by Evelyn De Morgan (1880)

Our culture creates a fear of death. A huge industry exists in trying to keep the Angel of Death at bay. This painting gives us a different view. Here the Angel is tender, compassionate, gentle and shows great understanding and kindness. The lady appears grateful to see him and clutches his arm in gratitude. Her face illustrates her long battle with pain and suffering, and she is relieved it is to end.

Death is most often seen as a ‘Taker of Life.’ Its more compassionate face as ‘A Release from Life’ is rarely acknowledged. This is one angel you are all guaranteed to meet. He is not so bad, because although he heralds the end of possibilities in this life, he also ends the sufferings.

When we meet him, the book closes and we are weighed in the balance.