Who Knew? Other than to sing of the seraphim in hymns or hear of them in scripture, sadly I've never really given them much thought. I knew they were the highest rank of angels, closest to God in heaven and continuously sing, holy, holy, holy... but that was about it. I certainly never thought much about their appearance.
While doing my research before painting, I learned that the seraphim are on fire with love for God. Described in Isaiah 6 as having six wings; two to cover their face, two to hide their feet and two for flying.
I've painted them with their heads bowed in reverence, with eyes cast upward toward the Lord.
NOTE: Seraphim in Hebrew means flaming.
The ribbon in their hair is to hold their hair in place as they fly. And that's no joke. I had never really noticed that there is a ribbon on their head in Orthodox art. I thought it was for style.
Painted for an Orthodox church. They hang on either side of Christ in Glory.
Of course now I see them in art everywhere.
Seraphim - Holy, Holy, Holy
30 X 30 each - Acrylic on Birch Pane
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Christ in Glory with the Seraphim and the Protection of the Theotokos below installed in the church.