St. Michael Vanquishing the Devils
around 1664 | Luca Giordano
When some of the angels rose up against God, the Archangel Michael cast them into the abyss of hell. The distorted faces of the defeated angels (now become devils) crying out in desperation demonstrate the crass realism of the Spanish-Neapolitan court painter Jusepe de Ribera. Ribera’s palette, in turn, was influenced by Venetian painting, and this can be seen in the subtle coloration of St. Michael. It is not known for which church the altarpiece was originally intended. In the late 18th century it was taken from Vienna’s Minorite Church to the imperial picture gallery.
When some of the angels rose up against God, the Archangel Michael cast them into the abyss of hell. The distorted faces of the defeated angels (now become devils) crying out in desperation demonstrate the crass realism of the Spanish-Neapolitan court painter Jusepe de Ribera. Ribera’s palette, in turn, was influenced by Venetian painting, and this can be seen in the subtle coloration of St. Michael. It is not known for which church the altarpiece was originally intended. In the late 18th century it was taken from Vienna’s Minorite Church to the imperial picture gallery.
Artist:
Luca Giordano (1634 - 1705 Neapel) DNB
Time:
around 1664
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Italian, Neapolitan
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
419 x 283 cm
Signed
Inscribed at lower right: IORDANVS. F
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 350
Provenance
documented in the gallery since 1785
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