the devil and the darkness of hell

User-created

This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.

This gallery include depictions and interpretations of the the devil, hell, and all things demonic in the 17th and 18th centuries. Chronologically, each displays its own form of darkness and different cultures interpretations of evil through paintings and other mediums. They all portray the dark force as a monstrous entity yet capture the beauty of the unknown through color.

Satan, Sin and Death (A Scene from Milton's `Paradise Lost'), William Hogarth, Around 1735, From the collection of: Tate Britain
"Satan, Sin and Death" is a remarkable painting depicting a naked women who is holding her arms out dividing Satan (Left) and a demonic representation of death (Right). The naked women is being swallowed by snakelike creatures as if she is sinking into the darkness. Satan is portrayed a grizzly man with a grotesque face. Being clothed in armor and equipped with a spear he is intimidating. The color really tells a story as Satan's side is given a fiery yellowish-orange and the demon's side has a deathly black. It shows a battle and divide between death and what awaits on the other side.
The Angel Binding Satan, Philippe-Jacques de Loutherbourg, 1740–1812, French, active in Britain (from 1771), ca. 1797, From the collection of: Yale Center for British Art
"The Angel Binding Satan" is a painting that depicts Satan being chained by the neck by a winged angel in the clouds. Satan is portrayed as a beastly figure with a skull face and snake-like legs. The red coloring creates a haunting image and grim representation of the devil that is both beautiful and mesmerizing. The painting is divided by color as the heavens and angel at the top of the painting are a yellowish-white then slowly it fades to red tones near Satan and his hellish realm.
"Witches Sabbath" is a grim and disturbing painting that depicts Satan surrounded by witches whom are offering children to him as a sacrifice. In the background is a stake with dead children being displayed and in the night sky are bats that are hovering over the scene. Satan is portrayed as a black goat (male) which is a traditional representation custom to the occult. Though it is portrayed at night it is very eerie that the ritual is displayed so brightly. Its as if they want you to notice every detail of the satanic ritual.
The schismatics and sowers of discord: Mahomet, William Blake, (1824-1827), From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
"The schismatics and sowers of discord: Mahomet" is a watercolor painting depicting Satan as a winged man holding a sword as he is praised by worshipers. In the center is a man ripping open his chest with his intestines falling out while two women and a naked man watch. The color red draws your eyes to the brutal parts of the painting like blood, facial expressions, and the wings of Satan.
Dante running from the three beasts, William Blake, (1824-1827), From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
"Dante running from three beasts" is a watercolor painting that depicts Dante running from three demonic figures towards a hovering angel beside a beautiful sea landscape. The interpritation of the demons are beast-like creatures one a vicious tiger, a lion, and boar with a dragons head. The colors of the sea and halo of bright tones around the angel suggest that the man is running towards a much better place then he is presently.
Lucifer on the Burning Lake, John Martin, 1825-1827, From the collection of: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
"Lucifer on the Burning Lake" is a Mezzotint that depicts hell as a dark cavern and Lucifer laying upon a burning lake holding a bow and arrow. Lucifer is portrayed as a nude winged man holding a bow and arrow and wearing only a soldiers helmet. This black and white picture uses lighter tones to show the lake is on fire and the lighter area draws your eyes to Lucifer which is the main subject of the piece.
Satan Smiting Job with Sore Boils, William Blake, Around 1826, From the collection of: Tate Britain
"Satan Smiting Job with Sore Boils" is a watercolor painting that depicts Satan as a winged man on a town landscape and he pouring a deathly potion onto an older man he stands upon. Next to them kneels a sad woman. The colors in this photo display Satan in red and a blue divides the painting sectioning off the darkness from the real world.
Dante and Virgile, William Bouguereau, 1850, From the collection of: Musée d’Orsay, Paris
"Dante and Virgile" is a depiction of two men fighting. One of the men is biting the neck of the other while kneeing him in the back. A flying demon looks on along with two other men. In the background are a plethora of men and women fighting in the same manner as the highlighted scene. The dark and grim red and black tones suggest that the scene is in hell. The colors portray the brutality and violent nature of the piece which is both beautiful and terrifying.
The Silver Devil, François-Nicolas Chifflart, 1865, From the collection of: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
"The Silver Devil" is an etching with drypoint on laid paper . It depicts the devil sitting atop a rock in hell with bodies at his feet. A nude woman crouches over in agony (right) and another woman worships him with her hands raised. A man reaches out to him (right) in worship as two men fight one another beside him. The sketch uses shading to show the darkness of hell.
Gloire et louange a toi, satan, dans les hauteurs du ciel ou tu regnas, et dans les profondeurs de l'enfer, ou vaincu, tu reves en silence! (Glory and praise to you, Satan, in the heights of heaven, where you reigned, and in thedepths of hell, where, vanquished, you dream in s ilence!), Odilon Redon, 1890, From the collection of: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
"Gloire et louange a toi, satan, dans les hauteurs du ciel ou tu regnas, et dans les profondeurs de l'enfer, ou vaincu, tu reves en silence!" is a lithograph depicting satan as a winged gargoyle crouched staring off the piece. The color surrounding him is shaded black, portraying the darkness of hell. Being the subject matter, Satan is darker and it draws your eyes to his ghoulish figure.
Credits: All media
This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites