Tetramorph
Date: March 2023
Material: White Alabaster
Dimensions: 66cm x 57cm x 16cm
Tetramorph. (The Four Gospels/Cherubim)
So why did I arrive at carving a Cherubim? I used a technique called Carving Direct where I follow the grain, shape and colouring in the stone. I began with a flat, white, block of alabaster within which I could see a powerful man radiating energy. At first, I thought it was Lucifer, but I could see a bird at the rear which made me think it could be the baptism of Christ with the dove descending upon Jesus. But there were two protruding alabaster bulges to the left and right which I was reluctant to remove. I had the inspiration that they were the heads of the Cherubim in Ezekiel’s vision. Amazingly, the orientation of the heads fitted the shape of the stone with the man’s head at the front, the eagle at the rear and the ox to the left and lion to the right. It was a tetramorph: Four (tetra) forms (morph) united in one body.
In researching the art history of cherubs they are usually portrayed as chubby children with wings perhaps holding a bow, like the Greek myth Eros, or Cupid in ancient Roman mythology. This was especially the case in the fifteenth century renaissance paintings. However, William Blakes paintings and illustrations depart from these images and had more detail e,g He rides upon the cherubim (1805).
The Cherubim in the Bible interestingly mirror the world view of deities of the ancient civilisations at that time with hybrid human and animal forms like Neo Assyrian, Babylon, Persia and Egyptian. For example lion headed humans appear in ancient Egypt (the god Sekhmet-the destroyer and restorer). The description of cherubs is not consistent throughout the Bible they all have multiple wings: Having two wings (Exodus, Kings and Chronicles), four wings (Ezekiel) or six wings (Revelation) and one or four heads! Cherubim and Seraphim are the only beings in Judaism and Christianity described as having wings and these seem to mainly appear in visions.
Different angelic creatures appear to have different roles. The Cherubs function seems to be the guardian of God’s presence. For example in the book of Genesis, they defend the tree of life in the garden of Eden and in Ezekiel’s vision the four cherubim surround and transport the throne of God. There were carved golden cherubim with outstretched wings above the ark of the covenant (in the tabernacle) where Moses heard the voice of God. Cherubim are finally mentioned in the book of Revelation where they show John (the writer), the future release of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
There are other places where we also see the imagery of the Cherubic tetramorph. For example in the symbols of the four Gospels writers correspond to the various heads. The book of Matthew being represented by a man, Mark a lion, Luke an ox and John an eagle. It is interesting to note that cherubim are guardians of God’s presence and the gospels record the life of Christ.
In 12th century records each of the four tetramorph heads were found on the coats of arms of the leading Israelite tribes. The insignia were believed to be on the flags or standards mentioned in the book of Numbers chapter 2 in the Old Testament (Rob Wallace – the four banners of Israel). The tribes of Israel camped around the tabernacle in the same orientation as Ezekiel’s Cherub heads: To the north the tribe of Dan was signified by an eagle, to the south the tribe of Reuben (means behold a son) was signified by a man, to the east the tribe of Judah was signified by a lion (Lion of Judah) and to the west the tribe of Ephraim signified by an ox. However, earlier expounded Hebrew texts called the Midrash Rabbah (covers the Torah including Numbers), written by Rabbis between the 3rd and 12th century have the tribe of Dan as a snake or set of scales and not that of an eagle.
Cherubim and Seraphim are described as living creatures or beasts and are the only angelic beings with wings, angels are not described in the Bible as having wings and it even describes them as having the appearance of men. Examples of angelic visitors in the form of men appear to Abraham and then to Lot and one or two angels appear at the tomb of Jesus, immediately after the resurrection, where they are encountered by the three women carrying spices. If angelic messengers appear as humans then this ties in with the warning to welcome strangers as we may be entertaining angels without knowing it. Recommended further reading about angels can be found in writings by Professor Michael Heiser.
