The Demon Seated

The Demon Seated
Russian: Демон (сидящий)
ArtistMikhail Vrubel
LocationTretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia

The Demon Seated (Russian: Демон сидящий) is an 1890 symbolist piece by Russian artist Mikhail Vrubel.[1]


The painting's background is a mountainous area in a scarlet sunset. The composition emphasizes the constraint of the demon's figure, as if pressed between the upper and lower bars of the frame. The painting is created in Vrubel's unique style with the effect of crystal edges, which makes his paintings look like stained glasses or panels. That effect was achieved with plain strokes made with a painting knife.

  1. ^ Sara Elizabeth Hecker, Dueling Demons: Mikhail Vrubel's Demon Seated and Demon Downcast - Art in Russia, Art in Russia, 2012-05-08. Archived 2015-06-15 at the Wayback Machine