Satan before the Lord

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.