Artwork
The Fall of the Rebel Angels
The Fall of the Rebel Angels is a gouache drawing by the Renaissance artist Palma il Giovane. It dates from 1585 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1585 by the Venetian artist Palma il Giovane, this drawing portrays a tumultuous descent of celestial beings. Executed with pen and brown ink, enhanced by a brown wash and selective touches of white gouache, the work resides in the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates a dramatic episode in which angels, cast from heaven, tumble through the air. Central figures are caught mid‑fall, their limbs extended, evoking the conflict between divine order and rebellion, a visual allegory of the struggle between good and evil.
Technique & Style
Palma il Giovane employed a layered approach: initial sketches in black chalk, overlaid with confident pen lines, then enriched with a brown wash that deepens the atmosphere. Sparse applications of white gouache highlight luminous areas, while the ink’s bold strokes convey kinetic energy typical of late‑Renaissance drawing.
History & Provenance
The drawing has been part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection since its acquisition, though earlier ownership records are limited. Its attribution to Palma il Giovane aligns with his known practice of combining drawing and painting techniques in narrative works of the late sixteenth century.
Context
Produced during the late Renaissance, the piece reflects the period’s fascination with dramatic biblical and mythological subjects. Palma il Giovane, a successor to Tintoretto, often revisited themes of celestial battles, integrating vigorous line work with atmospheric washes to heighten emotional impact.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Iacopo Negretti (1548/50 – 14 October 1628), best known as Jacopo or Giacomo Palma il Giovane or simply Palma Giovane ('Young Palma'), was an Italian painter from Venice and a notable exponent of the Venetian school.
