The Fall of Lucifer by Antonio María Esquivel Cushion

A dramatic and emotionally charged depiction of The Fall of Lucifer (1840) by Antonio María Esquivel, a leading Spanish Romantic painter. According to the Museo del Prado, the work shows the decisive moment when Saint Michael, with a stern and commanding expression, separates Lucifer from the celestial realm after his rebellion against God. Rather than focusing on armor, weapons, or a grand battle, Esquivel emphasizes the expressions of the two figures — Michael’s righteous authority and Lucifer’s hateful defiance. Arthive notes that the painting is an oil on canvas, created in 1840, measuring 275 × 205 cm, and belongs to the Prado’s collection in Madrid. It is classified as a religious Romantic work, blending dramatic lighting with the purity and clarity characteristic of Madrid’s academic style. The composition reflects the Romantic fascination with the supernatural, moral struggle, and the inner drama of the soul. Lucifer’s fall is not portrayed as a chaotic battle but as a solemn, almost judicial moment — the instant divine justice is enacted. Perfect for sacred art prints, dramatic religious imagery, Romantic‑era art collections, and educational materials exploring angelology, symbolism, and 19th‑century Spanish painting.