Angelitos Negros - The Prince of the Power of the Air (Op. 1847)

Imaginings of Lucifer have been around for centuries, with one of the earliest recorded take being in Ravenna's "Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo," where he is depicted as a blue-robed figure beside two other angels; a stark contrast to future animalistic, monstrous renderings that would become synonymous with his character.

The third entry in the Angelitos Negros series was not intended to be this, but I had this one singular pervasive image--compositiong, coloring, story and all--stuck in my head that needed to be released. As opposed to leaning into the cliche's of The Devil that we see in pop culture (horns, fiery reds, and mass torment) I wanted to illustrate a moment before The Fall. Characteristically, according to popular interpretations of Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 (verses 13 and 12 specifically), Lucifer was originally a chief musician in Heaven, and so I wanted to portray him in that way, with one of the most ancient instruments (known to man at least), the Lyre, as his instrument of choice.

Having been a witness, alongside many of the other equally famous angels, to the creation of the universe, by an all-knowing and infallible creator, I considered the swell of emotions, possibly even the fear and anger, of knowing that of all your peers and created things you were the one specifically designed to introduce Sin to humanity only to be condemned at the ultimate end of time for eternity. And then the subsequent and prideful thought that perhaps you could do all of this better than your maker--which would lead you to your end. In that moment, I don't imagine there was joy, only the resolve to take everyone and everything down with you, whether its a third of the angels following your influence or the countless souls you can claim until your final bondage.

And so we see a man not conflicted or to be pitied but one struck with painful arrogance, in his final, isolated moment of self realization, soon to be the Enemy of God.