ISSUE 22 NEWSLETTER (ADULT ANGELS)

APRIL 1, 2008 W AT E R H O U S SY M B L I SM

ADULT ANGELS AND SYMBOLISM INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Adult angels and symbols have the movie It’s A Wonderful ANGEL STONE, 2 been connected to one another Life. If Clarence succeeds, he C. 1855, MO- BILE, ALABAMA for thousands of years probably gets his wings and becomes a beginning in Egypt. They have first class angel. BERTHEL THOR- 2 always been around to protect, VALDSEN There are three types of an- guide and take care of humans. gels: ANGEL AND 2 A Christian prayer says: “Keep CHILD GRAVE First Hierarchy, Seraphim, watch, dear Lord, with those MARKER (1855) surround the throne of the who work, or watch or weep this Virgin Mary and in red to the THURMAN AN- 3 night, and give your angels GEL right. charge over those who sleep.

Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give Second Hierarchy, Cherubim, KINSLEY ME- 3 the ones who know and wor- MORIAL rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity ship seen in blue to the right. the afflicted, shield the joyous NOVELLI BIO 3 Third Hierarchy, Thrones, and all for your love’s sake.” wearing judges’ robes below Probably, the best known adult the Seraphim and support her IRISH IMMI- 4 angel in 20th Century American seat and represent divine GRANT ANGEL film history is Clarence Odd- justice. body (Henry Travers) who Some attributes of angels in- Assumption of the Virgin comes down from heaven to clude trumpets, harps, swords, Masolino (ca.1489-1429) keep George Bailey (Jimmy Capodimonte, Naples censers, scepters or swords. SPECIAL POINTS Stewart) from killing himself in OF INTEREST:

· Gabriel Archangel is a Throne GABRIEL (1894) OAKLAND CEMETERY, ATLANTA, GA

· Thurman Angel by As many you have heard, Oakland’s and announced the second coming James Novelli is based beloved Gabriel, to your right, was so all the souls could go to heaven. on French’s Kinsley damaged during the tornado that He falls into the third category of Memorial touched down in Atlanta the eve- Angels—Thrones. ning of March 14, 2008. Archangel If you are interested, I am sure · Elliott grave marker is Gabriel gazed skyward celebrating Oakland will be happy to accept based on Thorvald- victory over death or eternal life donations in an effort to restore sen’s Night Notice that Gabriel was holding a Gabriel. Send a check to Historic horn and was looking up to · Thoravaldsen sculpted Oakland Foundation, 248 Oakland Heaven. At an exact moment, he Lion of Lucerne Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. would have put the horn to his lips NEWSLETTER(ADULT ANGELS) Page 2

ANGEL STONE (C. 1855), CHURCH STREET CEMETERY, MOBILE

Because of other information was very common during stone Studies’ Markers XXIV I learned since the last news- that time for children to die and is associate professor of letter, I am re-visiting the young because there were Art History at Chattam Col- gravestone the we looked at not vaccines and immuniza- lege in Pittsburgh, PA, in- last month (far right). tions for yellow fever and formed me that this piece is other diseases. The stone based on a relief by Den- Notice that the angel is carry- was probably completed and mark artist Bertel Thorvald- ing two babies to heaven. installed approximately sen (c,. 1770-1844) entitled This stone marks the grave 1855. Night created in 1815 (see of John Elliott who died of below). This was designed yellow fever September 18, Beth Roark, who wrote the as a pendant to go with an- 1853 at the age of 13. An- article Embodying Immortal- other creation called Day. gels are thought of as guardi- ity In America’s Rural Garden Both works reside at the ans, protectors of death and Cemeteries, 1850-1950 for Thorvaldsen Museum. messengers from God. It the Association for Grave-

BERTEL THORVALDSEN (1770-1844)

He was born in Copenhagen, the Lion of Lucerne, seen rhythms in his works. Also, he Denmark in 1770 and spent below which was done by designed his works so that much of his adult life in Rome, Thorvaldsen in 1819. Sup- that they can be seen from and like Novelli, spotlighted posedly, it was done on page 3, he attended the to commemorate 11 Royale Academy in Rome. Swiss Army soldiers Even though he is better who tried to protect known in Europe, he does Marie Antoinette and have a connection to Oakland Louis XVI during the Cemetery in Atlanta. French Revolution and didn’t succeed. If you are familiar with the Lion monument in the Confed- Thorvaldsen’s every angle as seen by the erate section, it is based on strength was his lines and two pieces above and right.

ANOTHER ANGEL AND CHILD GRAVE MARKER (C. 1855)

Kim Jacobsen who has the because of the placement of ried and was born the 2nd of website Magnolias and the head. The major differ- July 1852 and departed this Peaches (http:// ence is the wings and the life the 26th of April 1854. magnolia.cyriv.com/), which Thorvaldsen image has a Kim and I were supposed to deals with cemeteries and dove to the right side. meet and do a symbolism symbolism, sent me the im- This stone is in the Bigbee tour of Oakland Cemetery the age to the right. Cemetery (AKA Pleasant day after the tornado struck You will see the Thorvaldsen Grove), White, Greene (March 15, 2008) and to say

image of Night one more time County, Alabama. It is the the least, we didn’t do that Caption describing picture or even more prevalent than the grave of John Calhoun, son of tour. graphic. one at the top of this page John F. and Eliza DeGraffen- ISSUE 22 Page 3

MARY GLOVER THURMAN ANGEL (C. 1916), OAKLAND CEMETERY, ATLANTA, GA

A longtime resident of Oak- several times take flowers land Cemetery is the Thur- from her beautiful gardens to man Angel. This particular terminally ill patients in hos- one was named after Mary pitals throughout the city. The Glover Thurman. She and nephew was touched by this her husband, a wealthy den- act of love and dubbed her tist, owned a very large ante- “the angel”. This particular bellum house where the Bilt- monument is based on more Hotel is today. She and Daniel Chester French’s Kins- her husband had no children ley Monument. Oakland’s so her nephew decided to Thurman Angel is sculpted by have the sculpture made in James Novelli (see his infor- memory of her. The story is mation below). that her nephew saw her

DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH’S KINSLEY MEMORIAL(1911)

“To catch the reader's attention, place an To the right is Daniel Chester wrote about the Kinsley Me- interesting sentence or quote from the French’s Kinsley Memorial in morial, “ While it is ancient in story here.” Woodlawn Cemetery, NY, NY. its suggestion, it is modern in It is made out of Tennessee treatment; especially in the marble. Notice to the left of character of the figure which the women’s hand is an hour sits gazing into the distance glass (passage of time). with an expression of expec- tancy that suggests hope and Other works known by Daniel Resurrection.” It is interest- Chester French include the ing how the angel is looking Lincoln Memorial, the Con- away from the viewer, but in cord Minute Man, and the the Thurman Angel, above, Marshal Field Memorial. In she is looking directly at the 1912, author Harry Bliss viewer.

JAMES SALVATORE JONH NOVELLI(1885-1940)

James Salvatore John Novelli he returned to the states, he Durham, North Carolina in- was born October 15, 1885 worked with a marble cutter. cluding Motherhood Group in Sulmona, Italy (Central He began to receive many and Rock of Ages. Italy). commissions including Amer- He continued to receive com- ica Triumphant, in Pershing When he was five, his family missions and accolades until Field, Jersey City, New Jersey, migrated to the United States the mid 1930’s. On May 31, commemorating the 147 and settled in New York. His 1940, Novelli committed neighborhood soldiers who interest in art was fueled by suicide apparently despon- died in World War I. He also his studies at the Royal dent over the lack of commis- did a couple of cemetery Caption describing picture or Academy of Fine Arts in sions and the impending war graphic. memorial commissions in Rome when he was 18. After in Europe. NOTES FROM THE For further information, contact Richard at [email protected] EDITOR The purpose of the symbol- ism newsletter is to con- tinue to document and WATERHOUSE SYMBOLISM explore symbols through- out the centuries. If you have symbols you want explored in the future, please contact me. If you 1770 Flagler Avenue NE have interesting symbols Atlanta, GA 30309-2706 you want shared with oth- Phone: 404 876-9374 ers, please send them to E-mail: [email protected] me.

As many of you know, I do a symbolism tour of Oak- land Cemetery the first Saturday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 pm during the Waterhouse Symbolism Twilight Tours Season April to October. The next one is May 3. The cost is only $10.00 for adults and SYMBOLS THROUGHOUT THE $5.00 for children and CENTURIES senior citizens. All pro- ceeds go to Oakland for their preservation efforts.

Richard Waterhouse

IRISH IMMIGRANT ANGEL (1884)

It is fitting that we end this point, the angel probably had were divinities. Christians newsletter spotlighting the an outstretched finger point- would adopt a six-pointed star, Oakland Cemetery Irish Im- ing to heaven with a writing representing the creation of migrant Angel who was not utensil held in the same heaven and earth, which took severely damaged in the hand. On the scroll, the angel six days according to the Bible. March 14, 2008 tornado that writes down the person’s The Latin cross bears IHS in ripped through downtown good deeds so in the case of relief, the first three letters of Atlanta even though a major Annie McNamara, she can Jesus in Greek. The Greeks tree collapsed around her. have eternal life. The point- used it as symbol of Dionysus ing finger leads the soul to- The angel acts as a guardian, (original meaning unknown) wards heaven and confirms messenger and protector of and the Christians borrowed it life after death. the dead and communicates to stand for Jesus. between God and mankind. Other symbols related to the

The angel’s wings portray MacNamara Angel include divine mission. the five-pointed star on her head conveying heavenly Notice how the angel looks wisdom. The Greeks and down at a scroll. At one Romans believed that stars