This is an illustration for John Milton's epic poem 'Paradise Lost' by the French artiste Gustave Dore. It pictures Satan's flight to earth at the end of Book III. It's a wood engraving and was originally printed in 1866.
Gustave Dore was perhaps the most prolific of 18th century book illustrators and certainly the most brilliant. Take a look at this image. It depicts Satan in the guise of an intrepid cosmonaut. He has traversed on wing the hazardous realm of chaos in order to reach the world of creation. In this image Dore depicts Satan's final descent as the sphere of the earth swims into the view. What do I like about this image? I like Dores' romanticised image of a handsome, athletic-looking Satan. A far cry from the demonic hoofed-feet creation of yore. His bat like wings intimate the only signs of menace; and yet in my opinion they are also beautiful - notice how their line effortlessly mimics and reverses the curve of the approaching earth. The clouds part as Satan enters the atmosphere, bathing him in gorgeous star-flecked celestial light. His muscular physique, determined bearing, and the fluttering skirts of his classical Homeresque armour all suggest an heroic figure - stalwart in the face of His heavenly tyranny. The image has less in common with Renaissance art and more in common with modern science fiction. Without Milton we just might never have had the vivid imaginings of Satans travels in epics such as His Dark Materials.
That Satan with less toil, and now with ease
Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light
And like a weather-beaten vessel holds
Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn;
Or in the emptier waste, resembling air,
Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold
Far off the empyreal heaven'
(Paradise Lost)
There is nothing better than to spend a very early Saturday morning; that is clad in thick grey clouds, like today, absorbed in the fantastic imaginings and world of Paradise Lost. Or, in the words of Milton himself, 'where the deep transported mind may soar - Above the wheeling poles, and at heaven's door - Look in'
Though my favourite line and the one that comes eagerly to mind, as I sit here is: 'better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven' - indeed!
______
