The Archangel Michael Weighing a Soul
1506
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1506
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Archangel Michael Weighing a Soul is a 1506 ink by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a winged figure holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other. Below, a soul—drawn as a small, naked person—is being weighed. In the background, a castle sits on a hill, and a dragon-like creature lurks near the bottom left. The scales suggest this isn’t a real person but a symbolic scene. The artist used sharp lines to create drama and detail, typical of woodcuts. Next, look up woodcut to see how artists carved images into wood blocks.
