A devotional angelic figure shown kneeling, bowing, praying, or otherwise directing reverence toward an altar, Eucharistic tabernacle, crucifix, or holy figure.
An adoring angel is an angel shown in an attitude of worship: kneeling, bowing, clasping the hands, or turning toward a central sacred focus. Pairs of adoring angels frequently flank altars, tabernacles, Marian images, relics, or crucifixes.
Etymology
Adore from Latin adorare, “to worship, honor, or address reverently.”
Sculptor Notes
These figures are often designed in pairs. The inward turn of torso, head, hands, and wings should direct the viewer toward the sacred center. Mirroring the pair too mechanically can kill the life of the ensemble; corresponding figures should balance one another without becoming duplicates.
References
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/470601; https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/231142