Study for 'Fallen Angel' 1846

Alexandre Cabanel captured this study for 'Fallen Angel' with oil on canvas. Observe the figure of Lucifer, his face buried in his hand, a gesture of profound despair, echoing the classical motif of melancholy found in depictions of Saturn. Note the presence of wings, a symbol of divine grace, now drooping, heavy with the weight of his fall. This motif, borrowed from antiquity, where wings signified messengers of the gods, has been inverted here. Even the cherubic figures in the background offer a stark contrast to Lucifer's turmoil. The act of covering the face, seen across cultures from mourning rituals to shame, speaks to a deeply human sense of loss and alienation. It's a powerful, subconscious recognition of our own potential for both glory and ruin, and a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of human experience.