Demons on Canvas

Satan Calling Up His Legions William Blake

English artist William Blake was a highly celebrated painter and poet in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His works of art are remembered are some of the most notable of the Romanticism era. This is among his most popular artworks created in 1804 depicting Satan standing on a rocky outcrop in Hell summoning his demonic legions.

Dante and Virgil Wiliam-Adolphe Bouguereau (pictured above)

French artist William Adolphe Bouguereau was a prominent painter during the time when many artists would create artworks about Dante’s Divine Comedy. In this manuscript the fictitious story Dante is taken into Hell and is shown the different levels of torment that damned souls are forced to endure. This is one of the artist’s best artworks created in the late 19th century. The painting depicts Dante standing next to Virgil, his guide in the Underworld. Virgil explains to Dante that two men are locked in an eternal fight against one another with no end in sight.

Saint Augustine and the Devil Michael Pacher

German artist Michael Pcher was a prominent artist during the 15th century. He is among the few painters who attempted to incorporate Renaissance styles and practices in paintings. This is among his most memorable artworks created in 1475 depicting St, Augustine staring down Satan as the evil leader of Hell. The demon is holding a book and appears to be encouraging St, Augustine to write his name in it.

The Nightmare Henry Fuseli

Swiss artist Henry Fuseli lived most of his life in Britain beginning to study art in the mid-1700s. He is remembered as one of the more prominent artists from the Romanticism period. This is one of his most famous artworks created in 1781. The painting depicts a young woman lying in bed with a demon perched on her chest. It is symbolic of the real phenomena referred to as sleep paralysis and many people refer to this as experiencing an encounter with a “sleep paralysis demon”.

St. Michael Vanquishing Satan Raphael

Italian artist Raphael created this famous artwork in 1518. The painter completed this artwork after he was asked by Pope Leo X to take another look at the story of St, Michael defeating a demon. The painting depicts St. Michael swooping downward on Satan and the demon is thrown down and pinned to the ground, The painting shows St. Michael standing with one foot on Satan’s back clutching a sharp spear to finish off the demon.

Anchorites Tempted by Demons Salvator Rosa

Italian artist Salvator Rosa was a prominent painter during the Baroque period in the 17th century. He mostly focused on religious themes in his paintings. This artwork is among his most memorable paintings created in 1660 depicting the story of the Anchorites. They were men who withdrew from society to live a life of intense prayer and devotion to God. It is shown how they were tempted by demons.

Demon Seated Mikhail Vrubel

Russian artist Mikhail Vrubel was a prominent painter in the late 19th century. At this time artists were taking different approaches to the supernatural. A lot of artwork was done that was tied to the Christian church or storied from the Bible. Vrubel was inspired to paint a series of artworks after reading a famous poem by Russian poet Lermontov. The artist created many artworks with demonic beings and this one done in 1890 is among his best well-known. The painting depicts a demon sitting on a hillside and for emphasis, the artist used bold and dark coloration.

The Demon Downcast Mikhail Vrubel

Another painting by Russian artist Mikhail Vrubel was created in 1901 or 1902. The demon is depicted as being in severe grief or weakness. In the background the artist has painted high, pearly mountains having seen a photo of the Caucasus Mountains, The painting has distinct jagged edges for which Vruble was known to paint making the artwork appear to be like a stained-glass window.