St. Michael Casting Down Lucifer, after Pier Francesco Mola

Art Historical Context

In the spirited drawing *St. Michael Casting Down, after Pier Francesco M*, created in the 18th century by Louis Jacques Durameau, witness a dramatic biblical showdown. Durameau, a skilled French draftsman, faithfully reinterprets the Baroque master's vision of the Archangel Michael triumphing over the fallen angel Lucifer—a scene drawn from the Book of Revelation. Pier Francesco Mola (1612–1666), an Italian artist known for his dynamic compositions and theatrical lighting, inspired this work, capturing the eternal struggle between good and evil with angelic vigor and infernal defeat. Executed in red chalk on a modest sheet measuring 10 3/8 x 6 1/16 inches, the medium lends itself to rich tonal modeling and fluid lines, ideal for studies that emphasize movement and emotion. Red chalk, favored by artists for its warm hues and blendability, allowed Durameau to evoke the Baroque intensity of Mola's originals, where swirling drapery and muscular forms heighten the celestial drama. This intimate drawing exemplifies how 18th-century copies preserved and disseminated revered compositions. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Drawings and Prints (acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1966), it invites visitors to ponder themes of divine justice amid the angels' timeless allure. A gem for those fascinated by religious iconography and masterful draftsmanship.