On the other hand, certain deeds to be done were given to certain
angels who had definite names. These were the seven archangels. It was
Michael, captain of the Hosts of Heaven, that overcame the Demon and
drove him into the Bottomless Pit; it was Jophiel with the flaming
sword that drove Adam and Eve out of Paradise; it was Zadkiel that
stayed the hand of Abraham, and Chamuel that wrestled with Jacob.
These were all archangels who appeared with their various symbols in
Christian art. Uriel, guardian of the sun, is seen less frequently
than the others; but Raphael, the chief guardian angel, is often
seen in company with Tobit, and occasionally in the pictures of the
Last Judgment with Michael, blowing the dread blast of the great
resurrection.
[Illustration: GUIDO RENI: ST. MICHAEL AND THE DEMON]
But the angel Gabriel appears in art oftener than all the other angels
put together. This is because he was the angel of the Annunciation and
foretold the coming of Christ. He is seen a thousand times in Italian
art, lilies in hand, kneeling and repeating the message to the Madonna.
The theme was the most popular of all, and a thousand different types
of beauty were created to impersonate Gabriel. Many of them are still
existent, and some of them are the most lovely creations of the old
masters.