Fall of the Rebel Angels

Fall of the Rebel Angels from around 1822 by John Martin depicts the dramatic cosmic battle from Milton's Paradise Lost. The subject of angelic warfare across the heavens perfectly suited Martin's talent for depicting vast, overwhelming spaces filled with dramatic light and shadow. Martin's apocalyptic subjects resonated with an era of industrial transformation; his vast canvases toured Britain and America and were reproduced as mezzotints, reaching a public far beyond what galleries could accom

The cosmic battle is rendered with Martin's characteristic dramatic chiaroscuro and vertiginous spatial composition, creating a sense of sublime terror.