Can Someone familiar with art answer this question?

Question

Why is Lucifer, (supposedly the most beautiful, most handsome angel in heaven) whom reveled against Yahweh. Is portrayed as a black men in all the paintings? while the archangel Michael as well as the other angels are portrayed as white males?
Why is Lucifer, (supposedly the most beautiful, most handsome angel in heaven) whom reveled against Yahweh. Is portrayed as a black men in all the paintings? while the archangel Michael as well as the other angels are portrayed as white males?
Why is Lucifer, (supposedly the most beautiful, most handsome angel in heaven) whom reveled against Yahweh. Is portrayed as a black men in all the paintings? while the archangel Michael as well as the other angels are portrayed as white males? Are you telling me that a black angel named Lucifer was second in command in heaven, or was he white when he was good.

Answer 1

That is a very sweeping statement and you are misinformed. Take a look at these works as they are renderings which include the fallen angel Lucifer as a white male. I have icluded a lot here but can locate many more.

DELACROIX, Eugène
St Michael defeats the Devil
1854-61
Oil and wax on mounted canvas, 441 x 575 cm
Saint-Sulpice, Paris

DÜRER, Albrecht
Knight, Death and the Devil
1513
Engraving, 245 x 188 mm
Staatliche Kunsthalle, Karlsruhe

FLORIS, Frans
The Fall of the Rebellious Angels
1554
Oil on panel, 308 x 220 cm
Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp

GIAQUINTO, Corrado
Satan before the Lord
around 1750
Oil on canvas, 88 x 117 cm
Musei Vaticani, Vatican

GIMIGNANI, Giacinto
An Angel and a Devil Fighting for the Soul of a Child
-
Oil on canvas, 67 x 50 cm
Private collection

BOTTICELLI, Sandro
Three Temptations of Christ (detail)
1481-82
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

GIORDANO, Luca
The Fall of the Rebel Angels
1666
Oil on canvas, 419 x 283 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

BECCAFUMI, Domenico
Fall of the Rebel Angels
c. 1528
Oil on wood, 347 x 225 cm
San Niccolo al Carmine, Siena

The Archangels Triumphing over Lucifer
Artist: Marco D'oggiono

Look at the depiction of Satan, as drawn by Gustave Dore, in John Milton's Paradise Lost he is as described, beautiful and handsome, the bringer of light and yes he is a white male!!

I'm not saying that there aren't other portrayals of Lucifer/Satan/The Devil, in mostrous guise or as a black or red being neither am I saying that there wasn't a political or predjudicial slant within some versions. What I will say though is that when Lucifer is shown in his changed body it is simply a method that enables the viewer to visualize his metamorphasis from good to evil.

If you need any futher information don't hestate to ask as art history is my chosen area of research.

Answer 2

I've only seen the devil portrayed as a black man when it has to do with the crossroads legend from the deep south. Other than that they're usually always based on white males. Some may have goat heads but they're always white.

The classic version of the devil is a red skinned guy with white facial characteristics so I have know idea where you're getting this one. That's a new one on me and I've studied how the devil has been depicted in art for quite some time.

Unless your talking some of the really old stuff where some of the demons were done in black while the angels were done in white. If that's what you're using don't even pull race into this. Usually the illustrations were done as a relief, kinda like a stamp. Demons and everything evil was done in black to show the darkness in their beings as well as to provide the contrast between good and evil. It had nothing to do with them being black men. Put the race card away because you're way off base on this one.

Answer 3

The reason is because the Bible says white is the light, Heaven and black is darkness, Hell. Has nothing to do with painting. Good guys wear white and bad guys wear black thing. Nothing racial in it. If you read the Bible you can interpret Jesus as a black man but he is painted white. In Fact the concept of hell has changed. Satan use to be painted blue to represent the coldness of hell. Then red like the fires of hell.

Answer 4

Lucifer is not portrayed as a black man in "all the paintings." In fact, I cannot personally recall a black Lucifer portrayed with all the ethnic characteristics of a "black man."

See these historical examples:
http://www.museothyssen.org/thyssen_ing/coleccion/ficha843.htm
http://altreligion.about.com/library/graphics/bl_satan.htm

Answer 5

The answer is POLITICS, most paintings that would make up the subject were done for Church's, and rich Noble men who were not above been good judges of any matter never mind art.

Answer 6

Hey iraqidese...,

In all the images attached of Lucifer, I do not see a 'black man'. I see what is referred to as a dark lord - dark meaning ignorant to the light of God - which is truth and knowledge, kind of like Star Wars, "come over to the dark side Luke". The rest of your question seems loaded for some purpose of your own, with implications of prejudice.

Answer 7

Here's another question: Why did you ask the same question 3 times in one post? Why did you ask the same question 3 times in one post? Why did you ask the same question 3 times in one post?

P.S. In 'all' paintings? You haven't seen many paintings of Lucifer apparently.

Answer 8

first of all, Lucifer was the name of satan, befor the fall. It means light carrier. He was truelly a white, beautiful angel till he fell.
As we know from Christrian literature, Satan can apear to us in many forms. they can be beautiful, even angel forms. But when Satan is painted, he is painted ugly, or black or having partly animal forms, to simbolise the inside of him, not to present the outside look.
In art we use a lot of simbols to express thoughts, ideas, beliefs. when lucifer is painted black, it is simbolising his fall.
There is a whole streem in painting (for example Byzantine) which was presenting even humans (saints) not from outside, the way they looked out in real life, but they presented the inner portrait of them, their souls. The same is for presenting satan. Colors are also used as simbols in christianity. White is for light, puriti, virginity, inner cleannes, virtue life or Heaven. while dark colors, like purple (sometimes) and especially black are simbolizingsadness, simplicity or humblness (in garments of priests) but also sinn, darkness, light, heal, ann therefore satan as well.
one more thing. Angels do not have gender, so therefore they are not presented as mail or femel in byzantine art, and in the west minimum till the 10th century.. they are truelly neutrum, not havin any characteristic of any gender. The later presentation of baby like angels (with gender) might be influence of Helenistic art. probably form of Cupids was adapted for angels... or it was freedom of painters, but it has nothing to do with bible as also mayn other things painters painted in religious art.
Hope this helps...

Answer 9

maybe Lucifer is not supposedly the most beautiful, most handsome angel in heaven. but that's just me. or maybe Lucifer is inferior.

Answer 10

Because the painter is white guy.