'The Angel Standing in the Sun', Joseph Mallord William Turner

Artwork details

Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775‑1851)

Title

The Angel Standing in the Sun

Date exhibited 1846

MediumOil paint on canvas

Dimensionssupport: 787 x 787 mm frame: 942 x 942 x 73 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856

Reference

N00550

On display at Tate Britain

Theme: Turner Collection

Room: Turner and the Body

Display caption

This late painting shows the Archangel Michael appearing on the Day of Judgement with his flaming sword. In the foreground are Old Testament scenes of murder and betrayal: Adam and Eve weeps over the body of Abel (left), and Judith stands over the headless body of Holofernes (right).

Turner's pessimistic picture seems to show death is everywhere in this fallen world.
It may also reflect his concern that his
own life and art would be judged. He got his revenge on his critics by showing the painting with lines describing 'the feast
of vultures when the day is done.'

September 2004