“The Fall of Lucifer,” created by Edward Burne-Jones in 1894, is a gouache painting belonging to the Romanticism art movement and classified under the genre of religious painting. The artwork depicts a scene of divine turmoil, encapsulating the dramatic moment of Lucifer’s expulsion from Heaven.
In this artwork, Burne-Jones conveys a vivid and complex depiction of Lucifer and a host of fallen angels, descending from the celestial realms into darkness. The composition is densely populated with figures, emphasizing the multitude of those cast out alongside Lucifer. The figures are rendered with a robustness that exudes a sense of weight and inevitability, illustrating the tragic grandeur of their fall. The use of gouache as a medium allows for rich, opaque colors which enhance the somber and dramatic atmosphere. The edges of the painting are bordered with Latin inscriptions, adding a historical and scholarly context to the scene. The intricate details and the vivid portrayal of the figures highlight Burne-Jones’s mastery and his ability to invoke emotional and spiritual depth in religious themes.
