Artist:
Corrado Giaquinto
Media:
Oil on Canvas
Date:
1750
Dimensions:
46.06 in. x 34.65 in.
“The painting depicts God addressing a devil, who
in turn points downward. The devil has the usual attributes of the fallen
angel: dark colouring, bats' wings, pointed ears. The painting has a pendant:
Job Sacrificing to God to Ask for Blessings on His Sons. The lunette shape of
the two compositions, their dimensions, and the swift manner in which they were
executed suggests two sketches for frescoes, perhaps part of a more extensive
cycle. The two paintings were first attributed to Sebastiano Conca then to
Corrado Giaquinto. However, neither attributions are convincing.” Web Gallery
of Art
Corrado Giaquinto
was born February 18, 1703. He apprenticed with Saverio Porta, and by October
1724 he left his hometown of Molfetta and began training in the Neapolitan
studio of Francesco Solimena between 1719 and 1723. In 1730 he was commissioned
by King John V of Portugal for the Cathedral of the Mafra. In 1731, he was
commissioned to execute frescoes in the church of San Nicola dei Lorenesi. In
1740 he becomes a member of the Academy of Saint Luke. He died in 1765.
This
painting does not take place in hell, but instead it takes place in heaven
where God is banishing Lucifer to hell. Lucifer was an angel that grew jealous
of God’s love of humans. He tried to overthrow God but was not successful. This
is where the idea of Satan is given rise and therefore fits within the theme. I
chose this piece because I like the myth behind the creation of Satan and where
he emerged from.