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Biblical Art & Imagery
Gabriel the Archangel
Gabriel is an archangel with the divine power to announce God's will to mankind. Gabriel in Hebrew means "God is my strength" or "Might of God". He is God's messenger and his messages in the Bible all point to the coming Messiah.
He is frequently depicted in imagery by blowing a horn or carrying a trumpet, as well as being accompanied by a lily. The trumpet symbolizes his role as a messenger and the lily represents the purity and clarity of his divine message and guidance. This is why we mostly see that the angel included in many Nativity scenes is holding a horn (trumpet), because it was Gabriel that announced the coming Messiah.
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Gabriel statue by sculptor György Zala atop the Millennium Monument in Heroes Square, Budapest, Hungary. In this depiction, the sculptor chose to pose Gabriel holding the Hungarian Holy Crown, which was the coronation crown for kings. Gabriel is also holding the apostolic double cross to symbolize the country's Christian heritage.
"The Annunciation" by Leonardo da Vinci was completed between 1472-75, and commemorates when Gabriel informed the Virgin Mary that she had been chosen by God to be Jesus' mother. It is displayed in the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy.