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Satan Starts from the Touch of Ithuriel’s Spear
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Henry Fuseli's lifelong interest in the work of the English poet John Milton (1608-1674) inspired many drawings that interpreted passages from Milton's epic poem <em>Paradise Lost</em> (1667). This early example illustrates the moment when the angels Ithuriel and Zephon discover Satan disguised as a toad in the bower where Adam and Eve are sleeping. Ithuriel forces Satan to reveal himself by prodding him with a spear. The lion in the background alludes to an earlier passage in the poem, when Satan takes on the shape of the beast in order to spy on the couple.
| Artist / Maker | Henry Fuseli |
|---|---|
| Date | 1776 |
| Culture / Origin | England, 18th century |
| Medium | pen and brown ink and brush and gray wash |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 30.9 x 42.5 cm (12 3/16 x 16 3/4 in.); Secondary Support: 31 x 42.7 cm (12 3/16 x 16 13/16 in.) |
| Department | Drawings |
| Type | Drawing |
About the Artist
Henry Fuseli (Swiss, 1741–1825) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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