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Secondary sourcePainting12th century

Vision of the Angelic Hierarchy

Unknown · 12th century

A medieval image depicting an angelic hierarchy, in the style of Hildegard of Bingen's visionary writings.

This image reflects the visionary themes found in Hildegard's writings, connecting her work to medieval religious art.

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An image depicting a vision of an angelic hierarchy, in a style connected to Hildegard of Bingen's visionary writings.
Unknown artist, Vision of the Angelic Hierarchy, 12th century.

About this source

What it is

This is a twelfth-century image depicting a vision of an angelic hierarchy, created by an unknown artist. It is stylistically connected to the visionary writings of Hildegard of Bingen, though its exact source is not specified.

Why it matters

This image offers insight into the visual and theological culture that surrounded Hildegard's visions. It shows how artists in the medieval period visualized complex spiritual hierarchies, themes that Hildegard also explored in her own mystical writings.

Look closer

  • What might this image reveal about medieval beliefs regarding angels and the spiritual world?
  • How does this piece compare to what we know of Hildegard's own descriptions of her visions?
  • What is left out of this image that might be included in a more detailed account of angelic hierarchies?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Hildegard of Bingen on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Detail of a painted medieval miniature in orange, red and gold tones. A figure with flowing red hair sits at a desk, writing with a stylus on a tablet. A second face in profile appears at the right edge.Painting

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Scivias Frontispiece Miniature

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A large open medieval manuscript codex lies on a dark display stand in a glass case, with a metal chain attached to its binding and a white label reading 'Rupert' at the bottom. The pages show black text in columns and red decorated initials.Book

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Wiesbaden Codex

Hildegard of Bingen · c. 1200

Medieval illuminated manuscript miniature of the Universal Man: a nude human figure with outstretched arms stands within a large white circle surrounded by concentric rings, red and gray bands, and a red border. A bearded head crowns the top and a red-footed figure appears below. A small seated scribe at lower left writes at a desk.Book

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Liber divinorum operum

Hildegard of Bingen · c. 1163-1174

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