Cherubs

/ˈtʃɛrəbz/ noun

Definition

Plural of cherub; in Christian art, they're usually shown as cute winged baby angels, though in the Bible they're powerful heavenly beings.

Etymology

From Hebrew 'kerub' meaning a powerful winged creature; the Bible describes them as guards and messengers, but Renaissance artists made them into chubby babies.

Kelly Says

Medieval artists got so obsessed with painting cherubs that Renaissance master Raphael painted one so cute and chubby in 1510 that it inspired every cherub image for centuries—that one angel changed art forever!

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