St. Michael Slaying the Dragon

Hallowell employs a vivid palette of reds, blues, and golds to heighten the scene’s intensity. The armor is rendered with meticulous attention to light, creating metallic sheen through smooth gradations of shadow and highlight. The overall effect relies on chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts to model form and convey depth.

Completed in 1925, the painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains on view. Its acquisition records indicate it was donated by a private collector shortly after the artist’s death, ensuring its preservation within a public institution.

Created during the interwar period, the work reflects a renewed interest in religious subjects and heroic narratives in American art. Hallowell’s approach combines traditional iconography with a modern, expressive use of color and light, situating the piece within early twentieth‑century figurative painting.