[2] In 1845, while he was at the National School of Fine Arts, Cabanel won the second Grand Prix de Rome, which allowed him to move to Italy for a few years.

Like all the other residents, he had to send paintings back regularly to testify the progress he was making during his stay in Rome.

Cabanel opted for a subject not often represented in French painting: the fall from Heaven of the Fallen Angel, who went on to become the Devil.

[3] Depicting an angel expelled from heaven by God, the painting shows a saddened Lucifer, with his hands crossed and tears running from his eyes.

A romantic work, the figure of Lucifer is shown as a nude, handsome young man reclining, hands clasped, his face partially obscured by his arm.