The Fall of the Rebel Angels c. 1720

Sebastiano Ricci painted "The Fall of the Rebel Angels," capturing a pivotal moment of cosmic conflict. We see Michael, the archangel, sword raised, shield gleaming, casting down the rebellious angels from heaven. The act of “falling,” here, is not merely physical; it's symbolic of moral decay, a theme that echoes through art history, from classical depictions of Icarus plummeting from the sky to more contemporary portrayals of societal collapse. Consider, for instance, the repeated motif of a "fall from grace," a narrative imbued with psychological undertones reflecting humanity's susceptibility to temptation and the consequences of hubris. The sword as an instrument of divine justice is also a recurring image. This resonates with the power of authority and the consequences of challenging established order, a symbolic representation of power dynamics. The symbols are neither linear nor fixed; they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.