The Two Cherubs by Raphael: A Story Behind the Masterpiece

Among the countless masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance, few images are as immediately recognizable and universally adored as the Two Cherubs by Raphael. Floating serenely at the bottom of the grand painting Sistine Madonna, these two angelic figures have captured the imagination of the world for centuries. Often reproduced on posters, greeting cards, and various souvenirs, the cherubs have transcended their origin to become symbols of innocence, contemplation, and divine beauty. But what are these two cherubs? What is their meaning, their story, and what place do they hold in the world of art and culture? To understand them fully, one must look beyond the canvas into the heart of the Renaissance, into the life of Raphael, and into the enduring legacy of religious and artistic symbolism.

Who Are the Two Cherubs?

The Two Cherubs, often simply referred to as “Raphael’s Angels,” are a pair of plump, winged children gazing upward with expressions of quiet wonder and thoughtfulness. They appear at the very bottom of the Sistine Madonna, painted by Raphael around 1512-1513. The larger painting was commissioned by Pope Julius II for the church of San Sisto in Piacenza, Italy, and was intended as an altarpiece.

While the main focus of the Sistine Madonna is the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, flanked by Saint Sixtus and Saint Barbara, the cherubs rest on the ledge at the bottom, appearing almost as an afterthought, but one that has captivated audiences perhaps more than the grander figures above them.

These cherubs are not individual characters from any specific Biblical passage. Instead, they are emblematic of the celestial beings often referenced in Christian theology. Cherubs, or cherubim, are ranked among the highest orders of angels, often depicted in art as childlike beings to emphasize their purity and divine nature. In Raphael’s work, they serve to balance the gravity and solemnity of the figures above with a sense of innocence and wonder.

The Meaning of the Two Cherubs Painting

The meaning of the Two Cherubs has evolved over time, and much of their interpretation is bound up in both their religious context and their aesthetic presentation. Originally, their placement at the bottom of the Sistine Madonna may have served a compositional function, to anchor the painting and provide a visual entry point for the viewer’s gaze. Their upward glance draws the eye to the Virgin and Child, guiding contemplation from the earthly to the divine.

Symbolically, the cherubs are open to many interpretations. Some scholars view them as representatives of the viewer’s own perspective: curious, reflective, and slightly removed from the holy figures they observe. Others see them as symbols of divine contemplation, meditating upon the mysteries of God and the incarnation of Christ.

More broadly, the cherubs have come to symbolize the merging of the sacred and the human. Unlike the more austere, idealized religious figures common in medieval iconography, Raphael’s cherubs exhibit a sense of individuality and emotional depth. Their expressions, one with chin resting on his hand in a gesture of thoughtful boredom, the other gazing dreamily upward, make them relatable, almost childlike mirrors of human curiosity and feeling.

The Story of the Two Cherubs Painting

The Sistine Madonna, and by extension the Two Cherubs, was commissioned by Pope Julius II, one of the greatest patrons of the arts during the High Renaissance. Raphael, who was already making a name for himself through his work in the Vatican and elsewhere, was tasked with creating an altarpiece that would honor the Virgin Mary and the church of San Sisto.

The story goes that Raphael, while inspired by traditional religious themes, was also deeply influenced by the world around him. Some legends suggest that he drew inspiration for the cherubs from real children he observed in everyday life, perhaps the children of his models or from the streets of Rome. These everyday influences added a sense of realism and charm to the otherwise ethereal painting.

Upon its completion, the Sistine Madonna was praised for its harmonious composition, vivid colors, and emotional resonance. However, over time, the Two Cherubs at the bottom began to take on a life of their own. By the 19th and 20th centuries, they had become icons in their own right, often reproduced independently from the rest of the painting.

This phenomenon was not entirely accidental. As the Romantic and Victorian eras embraced idealized notions of childhood and innocence, the cherubs found new cultural resonance. Their detached, pensive demeanor was seen as emblematic of introspection and emotional depth, and they began to appear in literature, advertisements, and household items.

What Type of Art is the Two Cherubs by Raphael?

The Two Cherubs belong to the broader category of High Renaissance art. This period, spanning roughly the late 15th to early 16th centuries, was marked by a renewed interest in classical ideals, balanced composition, and the harmonious integration of form and meaning. Raphael was one of the foremost exponents of this movement, alongside contemporaries like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

High Renaissance art is characterized by its technical mastery, use of perspective, idealized figures, and incorporation of human emotion and realism. Raphael’s Sistine Madonna exemplifies all these qualities. The cherubs, while small in scale, reflect the larger principles of the Renaissance: balance, proportion, and a deep engagement with the viewer.

More specifically, the Two Cherubs are an example of religious art, a genre that dominated much of European painting for centuries. Yet their appeal is not limited to the devout. By embodying universal themes of wonder, contemplation, and the divine-human connection, they reach beyond their religious context to speak to the shared human experience.

Where is the Painting of the Two Cherubs by Raphael?

Originally created for the church of San Sisto in Piacenza, the Sistine Madonna had a long and complex journey before arriving at its current home. In the 18th century, the painting was sold to Augustus III, Elector of Saxony, and transported to Dresden, Germany. It eventually became part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Gallery) in the city.

Today, the Sistine Madonna, complete with the iconic Two Cherubs, resides in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, part of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. It remains one of the museum’s most treasured possessions and a major draw for art lovers from around the world.

Visitors to the museum can see the painting in its full glory, including the often-overlooked context that surrounds the cherubs. In person, one can appreciate the delicate brushwork, the luminous color palette, and the emotional depth that reproductions can only hint at.

A Timeless Appeal

The Two Cherubs by Raphael may be small in scale, but they have loomed large in the cultural imagination for more than five hundred years. Their gaze continues to invite viewers into a world of quiet contemplation, bridging the human and the divine with a grace that few other works of art can match.

Whether seen as religious symbols, artistic marvels, or cultural icons, the cherubs endure because they speak to something eternal: the innocence of wonder, the beauty of thought, and the transcendence of art. Through the masterful hand of Raphael, two simple angels have become timeless witnesses to the enduring power of human creativity and spiritual reflection.