The artists repository and drawing magazine: exhibiting the principles of the polite arts in their various branches (1.1787)

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head with wings at it's neck, (as -ufual in a
painter's heaven) but hieroglyphical com po-
rtions of various animals united, and cloathed
with wings, two covering their faces, two
from their hips downwards, and with two
Eying.

I (hall here, though fo me what before its
place, remark on the figures of angelic be-
ings, that they fhould have moft elegant and
graceful proportions, fuch as appear be ft fit-
ted for fpeed and celerity. Our idea of them
is, that they are fpirits affuming a vifible form
to render the fervices they are commanded.
The wings we ufually give them exprefs their
rapidity, and more than human fpeed, and
at the fame time ferve to diftinguifh them:
but it feems evident by every relation of their
appearances, that they affumed completely the
human form, and were not di(covered by thofe
to whom they were fent, till the purpofes of
their miflion were accomplished, and them-
felves revealed the fecret.

To return to the fons of men: as adoles-
cence and youth fucceed to childhood, the
meafures of the figure approach thofe of ma-
turity : of thefe meafures we have fpoken as
they are generally applicable, but as every
perfon is not exactly alike, their variations
mult be referred to character.