The Fall of the Rebel Angels by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (Interpretation and Analysis)
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| The Fall of the Rebel Angels Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Pieter Bruegel the Elder is the quintessential Northern Renaissance artist. His style is unique and eclectic, reminiscent of the work of Hieronymus Bosch in its oddity. Today, Bruegel is known for his distinctive landscapes, scenes of everyday life, allegorical paintings, and his Northern Renaissance panache in general.
The Northern Renaissance (a term I’m using pretty loosely here) refers to an artistic movement in northern Europe that occurred at roughly the same time as the Italian Renaissance. Art of the Northern Renaissance is characterized by increased attention to the accurate portrayal of three dimensional space and greater realism in the depiction of the human form. However, art of the Northern Renaissance lacks the grandiose style of its Italian counterparts; instead, northern artists focused on more down-to-Earth scenes of everyday life and religious subjects.
One such religious painting is Bruegel’s The Fall of the Rebel Angels. This painting—which was probably part of a series of pieces for one collector—depicts a scene from the Book of Revelations in which Satan and his angels are thrown out of heaven. The style of the painting is inspired by the bizarre and otherworldly imagery of Hieronymus Bosch. Here, we see a chaotic scene of monstrous creatures, tumbling downwards as they are attacked by avenging angels.
In its composition, the painting feels very modern, and it is certainly unusual by Renaissance standards. There is no central focal point within this painting and no cues to tell the viewer where they should focus their attention. Instead, the painting is a seemingly chaotic mess of bodies and limbs. It is up to the viewer to pick through the visual mayhem to determine the important parts of the painting. Although it is an unusual compositional choice, it is characteristic of Bruegel paintings. Bruegel seemed to enjoy intentionally concealing the central figures of his paintings, adding superfluous detail to both entertain the eye and to force the viewer to study the scene more carefully. In the case of The Fall of the Rebel Angels, the viewer is treated to a fantastical menagerie of monsters, a unique feat of imagination.
Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.
The Northern Renaissance (a term I’m using pretty loosely here) refers to an artistic movement in northern Europe that occurred at roughly the same time as the Italian Renaissance. Art of the Northern Renaissance is characterized by increased attention to the accurate portrayal of three dimensional space and greater realism in the depiction of the human form. However, art of the Northern Renaissance lacks the grandiose style of its Italian counterparts; instead, northern artists focused on more down-to-Earth scenes of everyday life and religious subjects.
One such religious painting is Bruegel’s The Fall of the Rebel Angels. This painting—which was probably part of a series of pieces for one collector—depicts a scene from the Book of Revelations in which Satan and his angels are thrown out of heaven. The style of the painting is inspired by the bizarre and otherworldly imagery of Hieronymus Bosch. Here, we see a chaotic scene of monstrous creatures, tumbling downwards as they are attacked by avenging angels.
In its composition, the painting feels very modern, and it is certainly unusual by Renaissance standards. There is no central focal point within this painting and no cues to tell the viewer where they should focus their attention. Instead, the painting is a seemingly chaotic mess of bodies and limbs. It is up to the viewer to pick through the visual mayhem to determine the important parts of the painting. Although it is an unusual compositional choice, it is characteristic of Bruegel paintings. Bruegel seemed to enjoy intentionally concealing the central figures of his paintings, adding superfluous detail to both entertain the eye and to force the viewer to study the scene more carefully. In the case of The Fall of the Rebel Angels, the viewer is treated to a fantastical menagerie of monsters, a unique feat of imagination.
Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.
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