Master of Belmonte

Master of Belmonte is the notname of an anonymous Spanish painter active in Aragon around 1460 to 1490, named after works connected with the town of Belmonte. He worked in the late Gothic manner of the region, which absorbed strong Flemish influence to form the Hispano-Flemish style, combining decorative gold grounds and courtly settings with attention to naturalistic detail. His best-known work is a panel of Saint Michael, now in the Cloisters collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which shows the archangel in sumptuous armour treading on a demon, a vivid contrast of beauty and monstrosity typical of his religious imagery.