Rubens and the Demonic

Fascinating online lecture for the National Gallery looking in detail at the role of the demonic in the works of Rubens.

Art historian, Timothy Revell, lead us though a detailed argument around the influence of Frans Floris’s “Fall of the Rebel Angels” of 1554 which was in the cathedral in Antwerp and which Rubens would have known well on the composition of the latter artist. He also outlined the influence of Michelangelo and Durer on the work of both artists and how Floris in particular, showed a blending of Italian and Northern styles.

He led us through Rubens’ “Last Judgement” of 1618, “St Michael Throwing out Lucifer and the Rebel Angels” of about 1622 and his “The Virgin as the Woman of the Apocalypse” from 1623-4, comparing the imagery to the Floris. He spent some time discussing a Bumble Bee in the latter picture and what it’s symbolism and links to Urban VIII might be.

This talk had originally been advertised as “A Halloween Journey Thought the National Gallery Collection” but it was good to have a talk with more substance than that. It just took my mind a few minutes to adapt as I arrived slightly late to the Zoom.

 

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