Alexandre Cabanel: Fallen Angel and Academicism

[@thezonaiarchitect]

"the academy didn't like this painting because it was 'terribly executed' and 'too romantic'" that painting is one of the most beautiful things I've ever SEEN what

[@spiderdude2099]

Back then, if things weren’t done in a PRECISE and particular way, the end product was not seen as having any worth at all. It was a very binary art world, dominated by the academy and with a very “our way or the highway” mindset. To even be entered into consideration for whether a piece of art was “beautiful” or not, it had to meet their criteria. If it didn’t, it was discarded and immediately branded as amateurish and trash. And speaking out against that dismissal branded you as an enemy of the academy in equal measure.

[@herculas2611]

Nah he butchered the anatomy pretty bad, you know jackshit about paintings so you wouldn't know.he fucked up the anatomy but its still pretty beautiful

[@christianurena510]

beauty is in the eye of the beholder and art is whatever we make of it, for the standards of said Academy this wasn't crafted flawlessly and that's the reason they didn't approved it...I agree with you, it's extremely beautiful and a classic

[@Mukkki]

@@christianurena510 hm yes.. i love it, but there is something wrong with the position of the head

[@xen9581]

i think thats why the academy hated it in the first place, its shows way too much emotion for their tastes

[@m4yhem.]

i fell in love with cabanel's fallen angel piece the first time i saw it, the attention to detail and the anatomy is amazing, the angel's expression and the history it stems from was definitely an addition to my love for it plus its so aesthetically pleasing. needless to say it really took my breath away.

[@drew_xviii330]

I felt the exact same way when I first saw it, the painting was a huge inspiration for my style at one point, now it’s formed into something different but a lot of his work really helped in my understanding of anatomy and posing of figures Also, really love your pfp of Venti ^^ I’m Genshin fan myself lol

[@mykamoon-nv4oc]

I know right it's such a beautiful painting with aot of emotion

[@curiousworld7912]

I think you summed this up quite well. It's unfortunate that so many 'academic' artists are no longer as well known as they once were, and while I reject any rigid notions of 'this is what art is, and nothing else'; I also understand the importance of craftsmanship, technique, training - but, above all, talent and creativity. I love Cabanel and Bourguereau, but I also love the Symbolists and the Expressionists. Art is whatever moves you - excites, saddens, pleases and especially, challenges.

[@Malik-Ibi]

So true what you wrote. Something that bothers me is some modern "artists" that do not actually make art, not even work... That is a total exageration and abuse of the earned freedom in art.

[@curiousworld7912]

@@Malik-Ibi This is just my opinion, and should be taken as such, but I think art should be a sort of dialogue between the artist and the viewer. Sometimes, I feel like much modern art is simply the artist talking to him/her self. And that's fine, I suppose, but I would prefer to be engaged by art - not simply nonplussed by it.

[@jamesrobiscoe1174]

@@curiousworld7912 - Bingo! Dialogue is the key word. The onanistic impulses that consumed the production of art in the 50s and onward were boring, unengaging, woefully self-reflective. What calls itself "art" today is too often vapid nonsense. Take the human out of art and what's left is a mere thing.

[@curiousworld7912]

@@jamesrobiscoe1174 Thank you, and I must say; this is the first time I've seen the use of the word 'onanistic' in a KZbin post. Well-put. :)

[@michaelhighlights1614]

art is beauty and nothing else

[@ichigo_4422]

he was 24 years old when he painted the Fallen Angel, that's mind blowing

[@BBWahoo]

You weren't impressed when he started at 13!? THAT is mind blowing!

[@alpha_jasperflair1097]

@@BBWahoo there are many talented art kids out there like Akiane she started painting at the age of 8 while I started at the age of 14 doing portraits anatomy and nature. People are slowly evolving

[@dragoon260]

Imagine what we could of accomplished if we didn't stare on screens all day.

[@hulagu3068]

24 is kind of old to go through an emo phase.

[@Pollicina_db]

@@dragoon260Or didn’t have to study many random subjects in school instead on focusing what you want to learn

[@karolinefischer3235]

The fallen angel may be my favourite piece of art out there, the expression on his face is so immersive, it sucks you into the painting and makes you feel for this angel, someone you have no connection to, but cabanel still makes you relate to him, makes him real for the time you're looking at him, its absolutely beautiful!!

[@thrilloasis]

It reminds me of anakin crying with his yellow eyes

[@drendex7384]

@@thrilloasis Anakin is a religious reference to Lucifer

[@glato978]

To me it's always kinda looked like that frustrated feeling you would get as a young child when things didn't turn out the way you want, but you know you just simply can't do anything about it.

[@lonnacamacho4383]

The lack of autonomy. Every child feels that! Especially when being admonished from a parent like Lucifer being banished from heaven for being an ass. He wasn't even trying to rebel against God (he is now). He wanted to have his own kingdom and be his own god. Like a petulant child, he is frustrated at his lack of autonomy, and he is indignant because he knows he's wrong but has to double down to save face. He has no chance for redemption either so that's the ultimate frustration. He's stuck and doomed.

[@TheInfiniteAmo]

My thought exactly. The tense musculature and the angel's seething, semi-hidden face all speak to a childlike anger and impotence.

[@TheDoomFan2004]

It looks like dude is about to shred the whole universe down to atoms

[@cursed6368]

@@lonnacamacho4383 wow. you couldn't have said it better. do you mind if i save your comment?

[@lonnacamacho4383]

@@cursed6368 Absolutely. Thank you for the compliment!

[@mxwinnie]

The fact that the fallen angel is now one of the most famous painting is so great since it was rejected in Cabanel’s life time but is now more famous then some of the art works that were academically accepted back then.

[@ibz]

I feel like the emotion that’s portrayed the most in the painting Fallen Angel, is frustration

[@supahjadi8944]

Jojo is good you hater

[@jubilantonion1593]

is that really the best word you can come up with lol

[@necronicles]

i can recognize that floch joker profile picture anywhere...

[@lamb4613]

Bro it's more than frustration lol

[@robbykidman]

i see “jealousy” in his eyes

[@sirbaconchops]

You have introduced a world of art to me that I honestly would of never dove into without your videos. Keep up the great work!

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Awww! This means the world to me! It makes me very happy! Thank you so much!

[@hugovanvliet6825]

Thanks for uploading this video! Cabanel’s Fallen Angel always reminds me of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in ROTS. They look alike and share similar subject matter.

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Absolutely! They're both pretty tragic characters filled with bitterness, hate, but also sadness. Thank you for leaving a comment Hugo! It's super appreciated!

[@hugovanvliet6825]

@@TheCanvasArtHistoryThank you for responding to my comment and giving your take on it! I really love your videos and keep doing what you’re doing!

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

Yeah me too, and I‘ve never even watched all of the films fully lmao

[@tinobemellow]

Only you can understand the context of the Fallen Angel, whereas the other guy is a puny psychopath that kills kids for no reason.

[@lonnacamacho4383]

In church yesterday, in reading some OT, from Numbers and Joshua, the name Anak is mentioned. He was the father of the race of giants known as the Anakim. Anakin. Skywalker. Fallen angels. Nephilim - the abominations created from the offspring of demons and women. Any way! Thought that was an interesting spin, a deeper spin, into the depths of who Anakin is, or how he got his name, especially since he never knew his father.

[@Nostalg1a]

Funny how the tables have turned, now schools impose the boring modern styles of the 20th century onto students and classical art is the insurgent. I guess people never learn.

[@ezrastardust3124]

I feel like the same thing is happening with cinema. Back in the day gritty realism was new, subversive and exciting, now anything other than that is dismissed as sugary crap when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

[@toons8744]

Trying to join in what art is and can be has never worked. It by definition defies all boundaries of self expression if done genuinely

[@justinhunt4767]

Skill talent always did more for me then modern Art

[@maddiedoes3571]

I'd caution against calling all 20th century styles "boring" just for the sake of discussion -- I think some pieces definitely have their own value. The work of Escher primarily comes to mind for me.

[@NikolaTheodore]

they don't "impose" anything, they encourage. because they encourage unique individual expression. and artists themselves explore alternative expressions, because that's part of their journey. technical perfection leads to uniformity. do we want artists to make a statement, challenge us, make us question or consider new ideas? do we want them to inspire us, offer unique perspective on the world, give us insight into their psyche or would we rather they create decorative poster art? an artist's expression ought to add another layer on top of technical mastery. realistic reproduction of the real world on the canvas simply isn't enough.

[@approachingetterath9959]

i wouldn't say i'm into the fine arts much aside from admiring the mind boggling skill these painters have, but the Fallen Angel has always stuck to the back of my mind. the expression is so raw and human. rarely do i see the emotion of "so angry that you cry" depicted in any media, which to me this is depicting first and foremost. the fact that he half hides his face but doesn't use his wings to cover himself, or curl up into a more protected position, gives this such an energy of "i may have lost the battle, but i haven't lost the war". it seems to admit defeat in the moment while not being beaten down for good.

[@rachelgray6790]

Weirdly inspiring for a depiction of a “demon”! Can’t help rooting for the guy

[@beans3977]

​@@Camel_P_oxI thought Lucifer was a non canon name for satan?

[@beans3977]

@@Camel_P_ox Oh wasn't trying to be rude. It was a genuine question

[@cartersmith6628]

I think my favorite part about the piece Fallen Angel is how Cabanel used the expression, pose and imagery combine to tell a story that transcends time. Even if you don’t know the full biblical context, just knowing about fallen angels is enough and the painting does the rest. It masterfully displays all the layered emotions that can only come from a complex, deep personal history. It can play into the idea of the sympathetic villain because seeing the extreme pain and hurt of this character makes us understand why they became so dark. A trope that’s only become more popular since then. For example I see this and I immediately think of Anakin Skywalker. Partially because of the likeness, but I think the story Cabanel was trying to tell lines up well. The dark fallen paragon, who’s rejection by those who are supposed to be the “good guy” almost seems as evil as anything the angel might go on to do. It shows he understood the subject matter and told a story that reached from hundreds of years in his past and still connects with the stories we tell hundreds of years later

[@masudalisoy3885]

One of my favorite paintings! When I come to Montpellier to study, my friend here told me that this painting is at Musée Fabre which is in Montpellier! I was so glad when I heard about it, but due to COVID-19, I still can not visit the museum to see it with my eyes. I hope all these problems will end soon and we'll be able to visit museums again because we really need them. Thanks for the video!

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

It's really a shame that there are no high-resolution reproductions of this painting online. So many people could benefit from being able to look into the details of this amazing artwork. I envy you for being able to see it in person and have access to these details (once Covid is over). Thanks for the comment!

[@RazedParadise]

I've seen many of these paintings many times online, but never knew who did them. Thanks for the great video and for putting the title and artist names.

[@MarianaIsabelCampos]

I understand your point of view. It's clear that you are much into modern art then into classical, academic art. But I find it kinda ironic that people who say they like meaning, they like expression of ideas, sensibility, humanity in art, fail to apreciate such deep and beautiful concepts with a said "boring painting". The way they capture light, the beautiful machine that is our body, how we humans capture the world, how a range of different colors can create an impression of living flesh. You can't just "look" at things and sprinkle your concept and philosophys on top of that to make the audience feel something dramatic. You have to observe, you have to really pay attention to the world around you to be able to paint with such precision and technique. Be humble, and look around. Be humble and look at a hand for 10 hours do understand it's form, how the light slides trough it. And I am only talking about the more technical aspects. Of course it's sad that there was a time where academys would be so strict, but it has happened with modern art too. It's "cool" and it's "edgy" and "expensive" to make provocative, and fast artwork, and galleries love it. You can make more pieces in a shorter period, that's more money, and sell it at skyrocking prices because it's so "unique and artistic". Every art shcool around the globe will teach you to "paint like a kid", "do expressive work" and won't give you the tools to learn your craft, and have whatever voice you wanna have as a painter, isn't that strict too? Isn't that some form of authority? To deprive a whole generation from knowledge?

[@blackwoodmills5860]

You summed it up so well. The "defense of academic art despite its inferiority to modern art" was certainly a little grating lol.

[@MyGabe321]

Eu pensei em comentar algo nesse vídeo, mas você disse tudo o que eu tinha pra dizer e ainda mais (I thought about let something in the comments, but you said everything i had to say and even more)

[@literalwho9017]

academic art is absolutely soulless most of the times, I assume you people just watched a bunch of paintings online, congrats, those are the best of the best, most are forgettable landscapes for your dining room, also a lot of you people seem to confuse academicism with figurative art, there's modern figurative art, a lot, not everything is abstract expressionism, Goya was a figurative painter, and he's probably the fiercest painter ever, nothing to do with photo-realistic dross

[@mrvanntabulous]

Modern art is a money laundering scheme, not art

[@stephanie8098]

you are so right, people overlook the attention to detail and dont look into the painting and the meaning behind it. such a simole painting at first glance is easy for us to admire the skill however if u look closely theres so kuch more. the fineness andshadows and brush work is breathtaking. aswell as thinking back to the access to resources they had back then. now mordern art can be beautiful but now theres obviosuly more types and abstract art is welcomed but as a the modern workd develops, the art developed with it and looses the smartness behind it

[@pigpig252]

My first thought when I saw this painting was, oddly enough, Anakin Skywalker from Revenge of the Sith. He has the same emotions in his eyes, the sadness, the intense rage, the betrayal. To portray that so well in just a static pair of eyes is genius

[@benedictator4763]

Sand

[@equestrianfeminist9097]

Omg I thought the exact same thing 😮

[@LouisDethy]

Lucas placed a reference to The Fallen Angel in Revenge of the sith when Obi-Wan and Anakin are fighting on Mustafar

[@MikeMarlowe-ym3zy]

Christensen is a great actor I hate how he was treated back then

[@larswannop5942]

I always enjoy art that feels both open and inviting - conceptually or stylistically - rather than closed and didactic. I think I’m probably not alone with that. There’s probably another tension in this painting which is challenging which is that the viewer is forced to empathise with Satan’s very human and relatable position. He is vulnerable and indignant. Seeing an icon of evil portrayed as something a little more grey, a little more akin to ourselves, is more challenging for me, than the style or technique. Great video, thoughts and considerations as always.

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

You're absolutely right! I didn't even talk about how relatable and nuanced Satan is and how that might be even more important than technique. Thank you for the super interesting insight!

[@VenusianLissette]

Cabanel’s Birth of Venus is one of my favorites. Fallen Angel is also one that I’ve bookmarked mentally, I just love this style. It’s amazing to me that someone can come along, live their life, and capture images + feelings that I resonate w./enjoy, (even if not exact) and put them on a canvas.. for me to admire. Even if, hundreds, to thousands of years later. what a time to be alive.

[@logicss2893]

"Bookmarked mentally" i wish i could do that

[@Ebakes_]

This brought tears to my eyes. Loved this video

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

That's very nice to hear! Thank you Eli

[@PapagenoDispo]

i wouldn't exactly say that the birth of venus is his most popular work because i swear to you if you show all of cabanel's work to a person, they'd go "oh, the fallen angel guy"

[@mrhandexists20]

I am a 17 yo dude who doesnt exactly care about the paintings of the old masters, they look as good to me as any other painting... But this? From the first moment my eyes fell on this, i felt something. Idk what it was that i felt, but it was something that resonated within me, and struck a little chord of wonder and fear... I like this painting.

[@BBWahoo]

It made me aroused

[@ghghfggb905]

Its funny because im 17 rn and im in the same exact position as you were 2 years ago, i can relate to every single word you’ve said

[@Thecolorofasummer]

The Fallen Angel radiates such emotion to me. I feel like if the academy was'nt so restrictive, we would see more works like the Dallen Angel fom Cabanel. He clearly had a great talent for expressing such vivid depiction of emotions. Like you already mentioned, the complexity in the angels face is astonishing.

[@RubberDuckyDiamond]

This painting has always been one of my all-time favourites, but I had only ever seen it digitally and I never knew where it was being held. That was, until I moved to Montpellier and visited the Musee Fabre. I can still remember the moment like it was yesterday- I was walking from hall to hall, admiring each painting, until I walked into a room and the first thing I saw was the Fallen Angel. I had never rushed towards a painting like that ever in my life. I remember just standing in front of the work for minutes, drinking in every detail, in complete awe. I still get excited to see it whenever I visit the museum

[@prospero4586]

Well It's quite the coincidence that I had to write a small essay on Cabanel's Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Condemned Prisoners for my exams this morning ! Also great video !

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

What are the odds? That's a crazy coincidence! I really hope you did well on your exam! Thank you for the compliment and thank you for commenting!

[@bircheth]

i’m so happy i found this channel in 2020. it reinvigorated my love of art. another fantastic vid as always, hope to see so much more in 2021

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Thank you so much Ethan for such a sweet comment! I'm very excited for what's in store for 2021!

[@TheDoomFan2004]

@@TheCanvasArtHistory do you still reply to comments ?

[@thenuggetlord4290]

Every time I see tat painting I just think “it’s over Anakin I have the high ground!” “YOU UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER”

[@simivilla3253]

Frrrr

[@KillroyLP]

I'm not really a painting specialist but The Fallen Angel is magnificient art. Those eyes contain everything. Incredible work!

[@seni4164]

Something I really really love about this painting is his flexed arms. Its something young kids do when they’re throwing a tantrum - they clench their arms and throw them around. Or it could be trying to release that anger or holding himself back from lashing out or throwing a tantrum. It makes the subject of the painting seem all the more innocent and young as they utilise these childish ways of calming themselves down, and it makes us feel sorry for them as it maybe suggest that they were just too young to know what they did wrong to result in their banishment

[@sandboy5880]

He looks like Anakin in that one scene.

[@moekaiida8575]

The way people exert creativity within constraints - or even constraints giving birth to creativity - has been one of the most inspiring & encouraging aspects of art history for me. (Like Matisse making cutouts as a response to being confined to a wheelchair.) To be honest, I used to find stuff like Renaissance art boring, but started to educate myself about art styles/movements like Mannerism and Baroque where people, while conforming to boundaries to some degree, transgress and break rules - because we’re humans and it’s in our nature

[@ajttambo]

As someone who isn’t an art person, I find that the issue with modern art is that it seems to go out of its way to be ugly. Academic art might have had restrictions, but at least it was beautiful.

[@lonnacamacho4383]

You would be interested in reading the Communist Manifesto where it outlines a step-by-step process to ruin the modern world. One of the steps is to ruin art by purposefully making it ugly to behold as to uninspire society.

[@nothingbutfleurs]

beauty really is up to the beholder. i find most modern art very beautiful.

[@ajttambo]

@@nothingbutfleurs Some of it looks good, but somr of it seems like it is being ugly on purpose to be deconstructive.

[@cristianmr08]

I love that Lucifer in this painting is pictured a lot like Anakin Skywalker, whereas he fell to the dark side

[@StayDrivenMedia]

his rebellion against the academy, knowing that the fallen angel piece wouldn't be favored well, only shows me a painter that believed so heavily in his talents that he can follow both the norms and standards of the academy but also commit to his own narrative of self expression....that's beautiful to me, he just became my favorite painter!!

[@4Usuality]

I on the other hand am not a very big fan of modern art, my personal opinion is that the pendulum swung a bit too far back after the academy got shafted. I agree that they were far too rigid and I have nothing against the artists or anything, but a romantic era or even impressionist, or heck even a good ass roman statue does FAR more for me than any picasso or Dali or really any of them. I'm not saying oh my arts better than yours, no, there's a big market of big thinkers out there for modern art, and it deserves to exist, and hell I'm glad you like it. It just does next to nothing for me. My mother is an artist, and her favorite artist is Claude Monet. I do love Monet, I think some of his art is really brearthtaking. When we went to an art museum and she was able to see one of her favorite Monet pieces she was astounded, but not far away I saw a John Martin painting. Man that really changed me. Just goes to show you, not all art is for everyone. If I had to criticize one thing about the current state of art, it's that I wish it was more of an even spread than galleries exclusively full of this super modern stuff. If I could see a Picasso level, Martin level, Monet level and even more modern art piece all in the same room that would be great. Seeing one or the other is what makes me lose faith in the current state of art, even if just a little. Again, everyone is free to love the art they love, I encourage loving the art you love fully, I just feel like the art I MYSELF love has had it's time pass. And that makes me just a little sad.

[@4Usuality]

Still good video doe :)

[@jaroslavabasistova3779]

Oh, thank you for this amazing video! I have never heard about Cabanel before, and I absolutely love it - the Fallen Angel and the Birth of Venus as well. I will for sure search for more information and I am curious to see more of your videos. Thank you once again!

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

I'm so happy to read this. Thank you so much Jaroslava! Your comment made my day :)

[@notabene9804]

I see his eyes and hear Anakin scream I HATE YOU, I wonder if Hayden Christensen took this painting as inspiration for his performance

[@colonelkurtz2269]

I hate sand. It's rough and coarse and gets everywhere. Darth " No beach for me" Vader.

[@MiamiMarkYT]

I am so grateful for the modern art movement and the endless range of subject, style, and creativity that was liberated for the art world from it. However, I think there’s a tragedy lost in the death of Academicism. We went from it being everything that is art to basically not being a part of it. I took several art electives during my college major, and not one gave the time of day to it. To go and learn how to master the brush in the way pre-modern artists had to feels like a near entirely self-guided and almost impossible endeavor. I’m glad with where art is now, but just wish Academicism didn’t have to die to get us there.

[@Lionhearted626]

I think the story behind the Fallen Angel is really simple. And the painting is really simple, too. But nothing beats that expression in the eyes. It's that powerful; it pushes the piece into value for me all on its own.

[@lanceelopezz223]

Hear, hear.

[@lovelylittlegirl3332]

2:59 The Execution of Lady Jane Grey has got to be one of the most 4k looking paintings I have ever seen! It looks like a picture taken by a digital camera. That said, I am obsessed with the Fallen Angel painting and wanted to know more about the artist. Something about the eyes, the emotions and how he was able to capture it so well pulled me in the second my eyes landed on the art.

[@SEELE-ONE]

Only recently did I discover this painting exists, and I absolutely fell in love with it... Those. Damn. Eyes.

[@camerongillum41]

These videos are stunning and truly deserve more shine. Please keep up all of your hard work

[@claudia711]

I remember seeing this piece around this time in 2020, it haunted me, it got into my brain and all I could think of was that tear in that furious face. I ended up recreating it as practice when I started to get into oil paintings for the first time, I spent two months studying the painting as best as I could, and every time I got more in love with it... I think I spent two weeks alone trying to recreate the feeling on the face. I've done more oil paintings since then, but this one is still my favorite.

[@guudkushh5583]

I think if I saw this in real life I’d cry, it’s breathtaking.

[@8pija22]

I just stumbled upon this channel a few days ago, it’s a real hidden gem. Keep up the good work! I hope you get the recognition you deserve!!

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Thank you so much! Those are some incredibly kind words and they make me want to keep up with the good work even more! Thanks again!

[@ArtReviews]

Great video! The salons are most famous these days for the work their rejection inspired in the Impressionists, but the academy's training sure did help create some wonderful art on purpose as well, even if it was more limited in scope.

[@retromodernism1799]

Thanks for an illuminating video on this fascinating corner of Art History. Informative & enjoyable. Agree that "Fallen Angel" is a stand-out piece.

[@samueleggleton4623]

about a week ago, i got The Fallen Angel tattooed on my back. such a beautiful painting with so much emotion.

[@BoyProdigyX]

Ever since the almighty algorithm landed this channel on my feed, I've been exposed to the most fascinating pieces of art I could imagine. Even pieces I'm familiar with manage to surprise me in this space. Excellent work, and thank you for this series!

[@BoyProdigyX]

@Leonhard Euler haha Too true

[@salmanalkhaledi6473]

I love how I just discovered this feed while I'm super busy. Looks like I'm binge watching tonight

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Oh wow! That's great to read! I hope you enjoy :)

[@CarolusInciusEtScoti]

True creativity is not thinking outside the box, it is the thinking within a box of one's own design... in rejecting the learned or academic style of art, we rejected the discipline that is required for quality of craftsmanship. What we have done in modern art is to have enslaved ourselves to ingenuity, and no longer is quality of work, expression, technique acceptable, but rather only what is "expressive" and "inventive" and "new" which is very sad for two reasons. modern art has actually made art *less* accessible for people, as for both creators and consumers of art, the standard tropes, techniques, and constants are utterly rejected, meaning that unless you create something that no one has ever seen before, you are not interesting and not published. This results in artists engaging in a never ending pissing contest of outrage, to the point where signing your name on a latrine, or placing a crucifix in a jar off urine is considered of equal or greater merit for display and patronage than a thousand academic masters. no more can one of perhaps average skill but great dedication "do the work and practice long and hard" and be an artist... only those willing to do something outrageous or new are worthy... we built an aesthetic on destroying something rather than creating somthing... in the end the academics gave a standard to create by, perhaps overly rigid, but a standard of creation... but the modernists gave us only chaos and hatred of any restriction, nothing was deemed worthy unless it subverted or destroyed the old system of oppression and led us to total freedom from anyone but ourselves... and then when we killed the academy... we had no one left to kill but ourselves... and so we did. to our great demise... In the end, we fecked ourselves... what is more oppressive than the Master's of the Academy to free expression? The fickle and constantly shifting idol of popular concession and opinion... If you set the world on fire to give it light, what will you do when you have nothing left to burn? Where is beauty?

[@CarolusInciusEtScoti]

this said... great work on this channel. "Fallen Angel" is indeed a masterpiece.

[@joshuaokoro-sokoh2993]

Yeah I agree. This painting stuck with me the first time i saw it. Freedom of expression is important, but in my opinion a great artist and make something great regardless of limitations.

[@Hirvet]

"The literature on creativity strongly suggests that when you impose restrictions on people, it actually makes them more creative rather than less. Because part of what creativity is is overcoming of obstacles. Imagine someone who write poetry in Haiku format. It's very restrictive and obviously arbitrarily so, but the fact of restriction is part of what makes the poetic form possible. The same thing is True when you're playing a game - there's far more things that you can't do, when you play chess, than there are things that you can do, but there's still an infinite variations of chess games. So this idea that there is a dichonomy between structure and rules and creativity is perniciously false and contradicted by the evidence." - Jordan Peterson I think that we shouldn't compare modern and academic art at all, both of them have their own problems. I love early modern art - where they still applied their skills and made their art look absolutely beautiful to most people, including average people. Nowadays art is often used just for making a statement, for propaganda. Art is meant to be more like a search for meaning rather than for saying what is True. As long as these things are included in an artwork - we shouldn't care about the movement.

[@Sai4651]

The most beautiful painting I've ever seen

[@aminchemarkhi8931]

Bro i just came across your channel half an hour ago and it's one of my favorites now , dont ever stop , you deserve so much more recognition

[@linootte]

This beautiful painting of the Fallen Angel is in my home town, i saw it one day, without knowing it was in the museum i was visiting!

[@toons8744]

What a beautiful piece, how could anyone reject the raw emotion in those eyes

[@boneasin6266]

I absolutely love this painting- was introduced to it bc people were redrawing the pose he was in, it's so unbelievably good.

[@eduardolorandi3628]

For years I saw this painting on the internet and always had a thing for it. Much to my surprise, after watching your video I decide to look it up where it was currently exposed and happens to be on my city! Thanks so much for showing some light to this absolute masterpiece.

[@HeavenAboveRtas]

What I interpret what the fallen angel is feeling and doing, is the bottling of his emotions and trying to act tough in spite of the situation he is currently in. In doing so, his anger and frustration condenses and manifests into a single tear drop, running down the corner of his eye.

[@santiagonasar6511]

Había visto esa pintura, más no sabía el autor. Esa mirada generalmente la ponen los niños cuando lloran de impotencia.

[@lesterfaapaiaga9681]

I appreciate both modern and academic artist. Thank you for educating me

[@darthzeppid]

That's my favorite painting. Hit the nail on the head as to why I love it so much. The eyes, the tears express a variety of emotions. Emotions I know all to well. Thanks for this video for some reason it's hard to find videos on alexandre cabanel on KZbin. I would like to learn more

[@maggiegatsby4577]

Thanks for the video on AC. It is nice to hear an other pov, (not necessarily nouveau, as there is no parthenogenesis left, but) a fresh voice emerging, discovering old pieces of fine(r) art, fragile canvasses and such things. Art appreciation is not a fashion to be copied or a trend to follow like sheep do, but an elevating demanding habit, so tough to acquire.

[@shosslopingshoulders]

as an art history major, the movement i spent the most time studying and analyzing was modernism, but academicism was always visually my favorite and a huge guilty pleasure. what you said in the defense of academicism chapter is exactly why i enjoy it!! and i also find it funny that these people tried so hard to pass off their art of sexy ladies as "academic" just because they're supposed to depict venus or whatever ((mythological, therefore an academic subject!!!))

[@nunyabizness3777]

It's sad that appreciation for the work of great masters is called a "guilty pleasure" these days. Beauty is a better judge of art -- and harder to make -- than crap made for shock value. "Beautiful" is a much better adjective than "edgy" or "transgressive" or "irreverent." I'm sick of that crap, and don't feel any guilt whatsoever in loving Academic art.

[@raheemarahman5364]

one of my favourite paintings! so much expression

[@raheemarahman5364]

also, happy new year!

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Thank you Raheema! It's also one of my favorites! It's so emotionally charged! Happy new year to you too!

[@short-lived9671]

This painting is gorgeous. I'm in love with it.

[@mr.madhatter5538]

I feel like the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction. I see artists get criticised for making their pieces "too realistic". I don't think artists should be criticized for mastering the art of making their pieces flawless. There is room for all.

[@animerewind1323]

i KNEW I saw the Birth of Venus somewhere. And then it hit me, it was part of a puzzle in the Resident Evil remake😱

[@CaitlinKoi]

My mother bought a book about Bouguereau's work from the DIA, Detroit Institute of Art's, giftshop. He has been one of my favourite artists ever since. I remember going to the DIA myself back in college when my campus was just across the street, and I sat at the Nut Gatherer's painting of his for maybe 30 minutes straight. At least two different tour groups came and went as I just stared at every detail.

[@livetowin8100]

I’ve always loved Cabanel’s Fallen Angel and one aspect I’ve always liked about it and thought it’s a cool connection between different formats of art was the similarities to expressions the Angel makes and ones Anakin Skywalker makes in Revenge of the Sith. Hayden Christensen in my opinion had some intense and emotional facial expressions and I always saw him as like this real life version of the Fallen Angel because of how good he was at expressing anger, sadness, shame and regret for his actions in the later half of the movie. To me it’s a great example of different art formats connecting together without any intention on doing so and showing how art can truly convey different emotions.

[@phuphu1867]

the last sentences gave me chills to the bone, you did such a nice job wording how I felt about the under appreciation of his paintings, great work.❤️

[@midnightmosesuk]

It'd be very easy to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" in our opinions on academic painters. Yes, the paintings were stilted and formal but the technical ability on display in some of those paintings is truly astounding. The porcelain like skin on some of the female subjects of those portraits, the way the scenes depicted glow with an inner light. They're breathtaking achievements. Art is, and always should be, a broad church. The Cabanel's and Bouguereau's need to be rubbing should be rubbing shoulders with the Van Gogh's and Gauguin's because all of it is important. I just want to do, The Electric Bouguereau.

[@HalfRedux]

Another Banger video Instant like 👍

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Thank you so much! It feels amazing to read this!

[@mr.grumpy]

I'll begin this comment by saying I agree with most commenters here that this is a beautiful painting that masterfully captures a great range of emotions. But, the more I look at this painting the more I see that it is anatomically incorrect; either the subject's head is perched on top of his right shoulder or the left shoulder was stretched over to rest on the rock. Either way , the head doesn't center on the torso. That said, I still love the painting.

[@catherineboudreau1891]

You deserve so much more subscribers, your videos are great! And btw, is that a québécois accent I'm hearing? ;)

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Aw thank you so much!! And yes! You're right! Greetings from Montréal :)

[@lordsangone]

That face is exactly why I clicked on this video. Its astonishing and mesmerizing. Interested in more of Cabanel's work.

[@eudeminia8250]

this video helped me a lot for one of my assignments in uni, so thank you for making this,. You explained everything in a really helpful and understanding way

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Aww thank you so much! I'm glad I could help! I really hope you do great on your assignment! :)

[@bee-woods]

Genuinely one of the most beautiful pieces of art ever. It's been a favorite of mine for years

[@Mygoalwogel]

Thank you! When your channel first showed up in my feed, I thought, "Why would YT think I want to watch a snob talk about snobs?" Soooo mistakenly prejudiced on my part. I can't stop listening to your mind-blowing insights into the painting world, and teaching me how to appreciate it. My mom is a painter. I like that she focuses on technical skill and has no patience with total freedom. Your sympathetic videos on Rockwell gave voice to my overall criticism of the art world. But this video right here... Absolutely perfect. It has the power to bridge the divide between old fuddy duddies like me an the younger generations.

[@fernandosanchez6507]

Great painting, the first time I saw that face it brought tears to my eyes and felt a really strange emotion. Only music has made me feel that way, never thought a painting could do it.

[@junkyporpoise4254]

“You may not find these paintings as enthralling as modern art.” Are you kidding? Every single ‘academic’ painting shown in this video is absolutely stunning and beautiful. The realism and detail given to every single person and place in those paintings are amazing and are a demonstration of pure talent. In my humble opinion, all of the older academic paintings are so much more engaging and gorgeous compared to the, again in my opinion, ugly, rushed messes that some modern day art is.

[@corinisboring4480]

Great video. I just discovered this painting/Cabanel's work and I love it so I'm looking to learn more about him, so this was so informative. Will definitely check out your other videos

[@NesDoesStuff]

you know the video is guna be good when the most replayed part is the beginning of the video

[@ShieldStun]

i found your videos by chance and i love them , thank you for great videos and effort you put! I wish you had many more subscribers

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

Wow! Thank you so much! I'm very happy you enjoy my videos and the subscriber count keeps going up. thanks to people like you! Thank you!!

[@artfx9]

I would take any painting of the Academists, rather than the childrens' drawings by Modernists.

[@justinuchman9301]

absolutely amazing

[@macatron_2000]

didn't truly understand how much i loved and appreciated Cabanel's work until i watched this video. man he was astonishing

[@oniricodosfatos8286]

restriction and creativity can absolutely go together. Great video!

[@rukawakaede6573]

I've never really valued or viewed these types of paintings, I would look at them as "pretty pictures" that I was forced to look at during art class when I was younger and try to extract some deeper meaning. However, this painting, I find myself just staring at it in awe, how beautiful it is, just the anger in his eyes, the single tear and how much emotion is being expressed with that piercing gaze. The dark blonde hair, the fading wings, and godly physique. This is a masterpiece in my eyes

[@ty-kv1et]

thank you so much for this precious genre,

[@a_little_art_cottage]

i have been obsessed over this piece since the first time i saw it, i adore it so much.

[@s.g.7572]

Those eyes really are astounding. I won't forget this painting in a hurry.

[@SarocAngulo]

Sin dudas uno de mis pintores favoritos!!!

[@amusicalinstrument9745]

It'd almost like that teardrop is quivering, slowly decending

[@peterwu8471]

The art of today is also in a hierarchy ---- of idiocy. :) I love your point about forgotten artists.

[@kentokenyama3449]

I love this painting. I never forget how intense I feel upon seeing the eye. And also the body structure is so accurate especially with the angle of the arms.

[@johnwallace2319]

i'm reminded of the often quoted "limitations foster creativity", there is a lot to be said for having limits sometimes

[@ctrlzme.6448]

I LOVE ART PIECES THAT EXPRESS STRONG RAW EMOTIONS AND FALLEN ANGEL IS ONE OF THEM RAAAHHHHHH

[@tocororo]

Given the historical context of the power of the Academy at the time, it does make sense that the Fallen Angel represents the author's emotions regarding its restrictions on artistic freedom. It must have been very frustrating indeed.