Serbian Myth 1989

Boris Vallejo made this painting called "Serbian Myth" with, presumably, oils and possibly an airbrush given the gradients he achieves. The bodies are smoothed and shaded with airless blending techniques; look at the texture on the female figure’s stomach or the male figure's inner thigh, it's all built up in layers and glazes with some seriously deft handling. The monster is the star of the show here though, isn’t it? A cross between a bat and a gorilla from some acid trip fever dream. The lighting is theatrical. It looks like it's emanating from the sword, throwing a chiaroscuro shadow that sculpts the male hero, while the background is atmospheric but full of menace. It’s got that Frank Frazetta, heavy metal album cover kind of vibe that pushes the boundaries of good taste but with some serious painterly chops. I wonder if he ever looked at Caravaggio?