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The Fall of Lucifer

Image credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

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This is one of the earliest paintings in the collection and is in a northern European tradition which introduces elements of the grotesque. Set in a seascape and landscape, the forces of good and evil are engaged in a struggle. This is enacted through a direct representation of the biblical story of the fall of Lucifer and through the battles portrayed in the bottom right between the ships and on land. The ships fire at each other and on the land a battle is under way between the troops on the shoreline, some of which are mounted. There are the contrasts between light and dark, good and evil, peace and war and some figures wear light clothes and some dark, indicating the spiritual battle between the forces of light and dark. In Christian belief, a fallen angel is the enemy of God and actively promotes evil.

National Maritime Museum

London

Title

The Fall of Lucifer

Medium

oil on panel

Measurements

H 53.5 x W 42 cm

Accession number

BHC0706

Work type

Painting

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National Maritime Museum

Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England

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