Fall of the Damned

first half of 17th century

Peter Paul Rubens throws us right into the chaotic center of a divine eviction notice in this swirling Baroque masterpiece. A tangled mass of muscular, panicked bodies tumbles headfirst into a fiery, demonic abyss, dragged down by monstrous creatures with horns and claws. At the very top, a sliver of heavenly light reveals the archangel Michael casting them out, creating a dizzying sense of downward motion that makes your stomach drop just looking at it. It’s a terrifyingly beautiful reminder of the Baroque era's love for high drama, intense emotion, and maximum movement.

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