Musées de Langres – Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot – Musée d'Art et d'Histoire

This composition is part of a ceiling design for the chapel of the Château de Versailles. It was commissioned in 1672 from Charles Le Brun, who was First Painter to the King and responsible for interior decorations at Versailles from 1661. Le Brun worked on this design until the project was shelved in 1683, after Louvois (1641–1691), who did not get along with him, took over from Colbert (1619–1683) as superintendent of Bâtiments, Arts et Manufactures de France. Le Brun repeatedly tried to regain Louvois’ favour and complete the work, but was unsuccessful. The Langres museum’s painting covers around two-thirds of the overall design, which is framed by a balustrade. The other third of the design represents the Glory of God and is located next to the altar of the Versailles chapel. At the centre of the complex composition of the Langres museum’s painting is Saint Michael slaying a seven-headed monster that symbolises the seven deadly sins. Below him are three figures in freefall: the Devil (a sceptre in hand), the (deathly pale) Lust of the Flesh and the Fallen World (seen from the back). Around Saint Michael, the Angels sound their trumpets to announce the Triumph of God, and push the rebellious Angels to their fall. At the sides, the Shields of Virtue fight the Vices. The influence of Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) is clear in the treatment of the groups of angels, and in the figure of Saint Michael, inspired by Rubens’ The Fall of the Damned (circa 1620).