Curatorial Narrative In the grand tradition of Baroque painting, Francesco Solimena’s “Saint Michael expelling the Rebel Angels” is a tour de force that embodies the dynamic tension and spiritual fervor characteristic of this era. Created in an unspecified year, but undoubtedly within the vibrant artistic landscape of 18th-century Naples, the work showcases the artist’s mastery of fine brushwork and his deep understanding of the visual mechanics that govern Baroque composition. The intricate web of ochre-hued robes, dark green foliage, and the rich, burnished tones of brown and black, evoke a sense of opulent splendor, while the subtle play of light on the figures’ surfaces imbues the scene with an air of hushed reverence.When enlarged to 44×52 inches, Solimena’s composition assumes a commanding presence that is at once majestic and intimate. The spatial rhythm established by the artist’s deliberate use of depth cues from the atmos