Miracles of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Miracles of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Demonic Possession

This is a Jesuit altarpiece painted by Peter Paul Rubens shows a demonic possession. St. Ignatius is the largest figure in the paintings surrounded by a glowing aura. One of his hands is on the altar, the other outstretched over the two demoniacs writhing on the ground in the lower portion of this paintings. The female demoniac is standing to the left of the bottom of the painting, her right hand has grabbed her own hair and is yanking her head backwards into an unnatural twist and contortion, which signifying the symptom of self-harm. Her other hand claws at her clothes, exposing her chest, representing the symptoms of immodest and immoral behavior. Both demoniacÍs eyes are rolling into the back of their heads and both of their mouths are open revealing blackened tongues. The male demoniac is on the ground, his body has fallen to the ground, his legs are in the air, and his back is arched in an unnatural position. His body is surrounded by loose rope that has broken in a violent struggle. Binding is a typical practice in earl modern times to restrain a demoniac. Airy, non-solid demons are escaping towards the back end of the church. They appear as a mix of humanoid figures with tails, with serpent-like characteristics.

Peter Paul Rubens

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

ARTstor

1618, 17th century

Erich Lessing/ART RESOURCE, N.Y.

http://www.artstor.org/copyright

http://bilddatenbank.khm.at/viewArtefact?id=1619

Oil on Canvas

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Still Image

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Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria

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