An appearance or manifestation of an angel to a human being, a recurring narrative structure in biblical and Christian sacred art.
An angelophany is an appearance of an angel to a human being. The Annunciation, Raphael’s guidance of Tobias, the angel at Christ’s tomb, and angelic interventions in biblical narratives are all forms of angelophany.
Etymology
From Greek angelos, “messenger,” + phainein, “to show or appear.”
Sculptor Notes
In narrative sculpture the key problem is encounter: how does the composition make visible the difference between ordinary human presence and sudden heavenly appearance? Elevation, gesture, directional movement, light-catching wings, and spatial separation can establish that distinction.
References
https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_one/section_two/chapter_one/article_1/paragraph_5_heaven_and_earth.html