Artwork
Satan calling up his legions
Satan calling up his legions is a tempera painting by William Blake. It dates from 1809 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This painting is titled Satan calling up his legions.
It was created by William Blake in 1809.
The artist used tempera to create this work, which is a medium that involves using pigments mixed with a binding agent, often egg or glue, to adhere to a surface.
You can learn more about this technique at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
Created in 1809, *Satan calling up his legions* is a tempera painting by the English poet‑artist William Blake. Executed in the religious genre, the work exemplifies Blake’s characteristic blend of visual imagination and symbolic complexity. It is part of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts the figure of Satan summoning his forces, a theme drawn from biblical and apocryphal narratives. Blake’s treatment emphasizes the dramatic intensity of the moment, using the gathering of legions to explore ideas of rebellion, power, and spiritual conflict that recur throughout his oeuvre.
Technique & Style
Blake employed tempera, mixing pigments with an egg‑based binder to achieve a matte, luminous surface. The medium allows fine detail and a vivid colour range, which he uses to render the figures with stark contrasts and intricate line work. The style reflects Romantic sensibilities, favouring expressive gesture over strict naturalism.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains on display. Blake produced the work while based in London, where he spent most of his artistic career, contributing to the museum’s extensive collection of 19th‑century British art.
Context
*Satan calling up his legions* belongs to the broader Romantic movement, a period that celebrated individual vision and the sublime. Blake’s personal mythology and his integration of poetic and visual media place the piece within a network of works that challenge conventional religious iconography while affirming the era’s fascination with the extraordinary.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
