Artwork
Satan Starts from the Touch of Ithuriel's Spear
Satan Starts from the Touch of Ithuriel's Spear is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Henry Fuseli. It dates from 1776 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Satan Starts from the Touch of Ithuriel's Spear is a drawing by Henry Fuseli, inspired by a scene from John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts the moment when angels Ithuriel and Zephon discover Satan, disguised as a toad, spying on Adam and Eve. Ithuriel's spear forces Satan to reveal his true form, illustrating a pivotal scene from Milton's poem.
Technique & Style
Fuseli's use of chiaroscuro, a strong contrast between light and dark, creates a sense of tension and drama in the drawing. The contrast highlights the conflict between good and evil, as embodied by the angels and Satan.
Context
The drawing alludes to multiple passages from Paradise Lost, including Satan's earlier transformation into a lion to spy on Adam and Eve, represented by the lion in the background.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henry Fuseli was a Swiss painter, draughtsman, and writer on art who spent much of his career in Britain.
The Seven Planets
The Triumph of Truth Over Envy
Eros and Psyche
The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; the Devils Tormenting Ciampolo
The Dead Christ with Angels
Saint Florian
The Damned
The Man Sweeping the Interpreter's Parlor
Copy after Giulio Romano's Fall of Icarus
The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; the Devils Tormenting Ciampolo