In 1846 on of his Academy exhibits was a painting called…
““In 1846 on of his Academy exhibits was a painting called The Angel Standing in the Sun . Turner found this passage for the Academy catalogue in the Book of Revelation: And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, both free and bond, both small and great . To reinforce the note of voracious doom, he added two lines from Samuel Rogers' Voyage of Columbus : The morning march that flashes to the sun; The feast of vultures when the day is done. ””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage links a painting of an angel with apocalyptic imagery, suggesting humanity’s consumption of power and violence.
In simple terms: Art reflects apocalyptic themes of power and consumption.
Key Takeaway
Recognize destructive cycles in society.
Themes
art
apocalypse
power
violence
historical critique
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
historical
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- academic study
- public discourse
- media analysis
Key Concepts
symbolism
mythic narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the angel symbolize?
- How does art critique power?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations can vary widely.