Lucifer

Latest piece for the Poetry analysis column. Published in the Epoch Times London edition, 01/07/09.

A Reading of “Lucifer In Starlight” by George Meredith

Lucifer in Starlight

'On a starred night Prince Lucifer uprose.
Tired of his dark dominion swung the fiend
Above the rolling ball in cloud part screened,
Where sinners hugged their specter of repose.
Poor prey to his hot fit of pride were those.
And now upon his western wing he leaned,
Now his huge bulk o'er Afric's sands careened,
Now the black planet shadowed Arctic snows.
Soaring through wider zones that pricked his scars
With memory of the old revolt from Awe,
He reached a middle height, and at the stars,
Which are the brain of heaven, he looked, and sank.
Around the ancient track marched, rank on rank,
The army of unalterable law.'

I really admire this poem and would advise you give the analysis a read (click the link above). The poet shows great insight and a deep reflection on perhaps the true situation and feelings of the fallen archangel Lucifer.

A few friends have asked if I felt weird drawing the devil. In this context where he is not glamourized but contemplated in a different light, I felt there was no problem. It's always nice to depict something with a classical feel to it also, there is lots of reference material for this kind of character in renaissance art. Gustave Dore's illustrations for Miltons Paradise Lost are the classic example.



I really liked the look of the shading layer for this piece, a nice image alone.



The rough painted sketch I also found quite effective. On reflection it reminds me of Gollum in the Two Towers movie poster. D'yu reckon?

P.S Camera Obscura :)