The Fall of the Rebel Angels (1562) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

The Fall of the Rebel Angels - Pieter Bruegel the Elder - 1562

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Artwork Information

TitleThe Fall of the Rebel Angels
ArtistPieter Bruegel the Elder
Date1562
Mediumoil,panel
Dimensions117 x 162 cm
Art MovementNorthern Renaissance
Current LocationRoyal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium

About The Fall of the Rebel Angels

“The Fall of the Rebel Angels” is a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, created in 1562. This oil on panel work measures 117 cm by 162 cm and is housed at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels. It falls within the Northern Renaissance art movement and exemplifies Bruegel’s Boschian series, which refers to the influence of Hieronymus Bosch in his works. This religious painting vividly portrays a chaotic scene of angels falling from heaven as a result of their rebellion.

The artwork depicts a tumultuous and crowded scene of struggle and transformation, based on the biblical account of the war in heaven from Revelation 12:7-9, where the Archangel Michael and his angels fight against the dragon—the rebel angel Lucifer—and his followers, casting them out of heaven. Bruegel’s interpretation is rich in fantastical details, visual complexity, and hybrid creatures. The rebellious angels are shown transforming into grotesque demons as they tumble down to earth.

At the bottom, the forces of good, led by St. Michael, are shown in shining, ethereal armor, pressing the attack against the rebels with swords and lances. The painting is filled with an array of hybrid monsters and demonic creatures, imaginatively rendered with the bodies of insects, fish, and other animals, reflecting Bruegel’s fascination with natural history and his virtuosity in depicting it.

Above the chaos, the heavenly realm is depicted with a serene blue sky, providing an atmospheric contrast to the dark and congested lower half of the painting. The overall impression is a dynamic and dramatic depiction of chaos and conflict, rendered with Bruegel’s characteristic attention to detail and his ability to convey narrative through a complex composition.

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