The Exterminating Angel Slays the Army of Sennacherib 1613

Editor: We’re looking at Antonio Tempesta’s “The Exterminating Angel Slays the Army of Sennacherib.” It’s a chaotic scene! The angel looks almost like a storm cloud of vengeance. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: It's a potent image of divine intervention, isn’t it? Tempesta masterfully uses the etching technique to create a sense of overwhelming horror. I'm captivated by how the angel, a vortex of fury, contrasts with the very earthly suffering below. Editor: Earthly suffering, exactly. It feels so immediate, even now. What do you make of the scale? Curator: It’s interesting that Tempesta chose to depict such a monumental event on a small scale. Perhaps to suggest that even the grandest conflicts are, in the end, intensely personal experiences of suffering and loss. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. It’s like a reminder of the human cost, no matter the story. Curator: Precisely! A tiny window into an epic tragedy, leaving us to ponder the true nature of power.