1540
oil
panel
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
St Michael subduing Satan and weighing the Souls of the Dead is a 1540 oil by Lelio Orsi, a Mannerism work, held at Ashmolean Museum.
This painting depicts a dramatic scene with St Michael, an angel, standing on the left side. He is dressed in a yellow tunic and pink cape, holding a sword in his right hand and a scale in his left. On the right side, a woman in a pink dress is shown, possibly representing an allegory. In the foreground, a man is seen being devoured by a monster, adding to the sense of turmoil. The background of the painting features a dark and ominous landscape, with trees visible on the left side. The overall mood of the painting is one of intense action and struggle. The use of chiaroscuro in this painting creates a striking contrast between light and dark, drawing the viewer's attention to the central figures.
Lelio Orsi (1508/1511 – 1587), also known as Lelio da Novellara, was a Mannerist painter and architect of the Reggio Emilia school in northern Italy.
See the richer artist page
