Paolo Fiammingo – Landscape with the Expulsion of the Harpies Part 5 National Gallery UK

The composition presents a dramatic landscape dominated by a central figure engaged in a forceful gesture towards a tumultuous aerial scene. The foreground is defined by a dark, rocky outcrop from which this individual emerges, their body rendered with meticulous attention to anatomical detail and bathed in an uneven light that highlights the musculature. This person’s arm is extended outward, seemingly directing or repelling something beyond the immediate view.
Above, a chaotic swarm of winged figures fills much of the upper portion of the canvas. These beings possess characteristics of both human and avian forms – some appear as grotesque hybrids with sharp beaks and feathered wings, while others are more clearly angelic in appearance, though their expressions convey agitation or conflict. They swirl within a stormy sky, creating a sense of impending doom or violent upheaval.
The middle ground reveals an extensive cityscape nestled between hills and the shoreline of a large body of water. The city’s architecture is rendered with a degree of detail suggesting a deliberate attempt to evoke a specific place, though its precise location remains ambiguous. A crowd of figures can be discerned on a lower terrace within the city, their activities obscured by distance but hinting at a sense of collective anxiety or observation of the events unfolding above.
To the right of the central figure stands another individual, clad in elaborate robes and holding what appears to be a ceremonial staff. This figure’s posture is more restrained than that of the protagonist, suggesting a role as witness or perhaps an authority figure observing the unfolding drama. On the left side of the composition, additional winged figures engage in combat, wielding swords and shields, further contributing to the overall atmosphere of conflict.
The paintings subtexts likely revolve around themes of divine intervention, the struggle between order and chaos, and the potential for human agency within a larger cosmic narrative. The central figure’s gesture suggests an attempt to control or dispel a destructive force, while the presence of both angelic and monstrous winged beings implies a complex interplay of good and evil. The detailed depiction of the cityscape could represent a civilization threatened by these supernatural forces, highlighting the vulnerability of human society in the face of divine power. The contrast between the active figure and the more passive observer on the right may symbolize differing responses to crisis – action versus contemplation or acceptance. Overall, the work conveys a sense of dramatic tension and invites reflection on the precariousness of existence within a world governed by forces beyond human comprehension.