GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Franz von Stuck's Lucifer is the pendant to his first masterpiece, The Guardian of Paradise, an image of a heroic, idealized youth. Von Stuck etches a strong, sculpted man cloaked in dark wings encircled in shadow. The antithesis of purity, Lucifer's tense posture and possessed, penetrating eyes aggressively confront his beholder. But his furrowed brow and head resting on hand, possibly referencing Auguste Rodin's introspective Thinker, betrays an afflicted soul who is both pitiful and intimidating. Von Stuck's medium, etching, is able to capture the bald white of the devil's eyes and the encroaching darkness with stark immediacy. In 1891, King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, who purchased the larger oil painting, told von Stuck that some of his courtiers piously crossed themselves whenever walking past the terrifying portrait of personified sin.
Excerpt from
Britanny Luberda, DMA label copy, 2010.
NOTES
Created c. 1890
Checked Piction
WOP-Euro- Fantasies Symbolist Text postGail
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
von Stuck, Franz (German, 1863-1928)
Cultures
Geography
Place of origin: Munich (Germany): TGN: 7004333
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- National Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria~Find the painting of Lucifer by Franz von Stuck at the National Gallery in Bulgaria.
- Wikimedia Commons~View the pendant portrait for Lucifer, Franz von Stuck's 1889 The Guardian of Paradise.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 2000.181.FA
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General Description
Franz von Stuck's Lucifer is the pendant to his first masterpiece, The Guardian of Paradise, an image of a heroic, idealized youth. Von Stuck etches a strong, sculpted man cloaked in dark wings encircled in shadow. The antithesis of purity, Lucifer's tense posture and possessed, penetrating eyes aggressively confront his beholder. But his furrowed brow and head resting on hand, possibly referencing Auguste Rodin's introspective Thinker, betrays an afflicted soul who is both pitiful and intimidating. Von Stuck's medium, etching, is able to capture the bald white of the devil's eyes and the encroaching darkness with stark immediacy. In 1891, King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, who purchased the larger oil painting, told von Stuck that some of his courtiers piously crossed themselves whenever walking past the terrifying portrait of personified sin.
Excerpt from
Britanny Luberda, DMA label copy, 2010.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- National Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria~Find the painting of Lucifer by Franz von Stuck at the National Gallery in Bulgaria.
- Wikimedia Commons~View the pendant portrait for Lucifer, Franz von Stuck's 1889 The Guardian of Paradise.
Notes
Created c. 1890
Checked Piction
WOP-Euro- Fantasies Symbolist Text postGail
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
von Stuck, Franz (German, 1863-1928)
Cultures
Geography
Place of origin: Munich (Germany): TGN: 7004333
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
2000.181.FA
source file
object_notes_2_c-0062.xml.nores