And the Angel Took the Censer
1899
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1899
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
And the Angel Took the Censer is a 1899 by Odilon Redon, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a smoky angel swinging a golden censer, clouds curling like smoke around its wings. Redon made this as part of a set of prints that walk through the Book of Revelation, verse by verse. Most of his work feels dreamy and loose, but here he stuck close to the text—almost like an old Bible illustration. The angel’s face is soft, almost melting, yet the scene still feels urgent. If you like this quiet, spooky mood, look up the technique called *sfumato*.
