The artwork, titled “They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung,” is created by the artist Gustave Doré. This piece is a part of the Romanticism art movement and falls under the genre of illustration. It belongs to the series “Paradise Lost,” an epic poem by John Milton.
The artwork depicts a dramatic scene suffused with a sense of grandeur and intensity, characteristic of Romanticism. Central to the composition is a powerful, elevated figure, possibly an angelic being, brandishing a spear towards the heavens, commanding attention and reverence. Surrounding this commanding figure are numerous other beings, some appearing in positions of supplication or struggle, their bodies and limbs intricately interwoven, capturing the turmoil and conflict inherent in the scene. The dark, brooding clouds above enhance the dramatic tension, juxtaposed against a faint horizon of light, all meticulously rendered in Doré’s distinctive, intricate style.
