The Archangel Michael Piercing the Dragon
1475
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1475
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
The Archangel Michael Piercing the Dragon is a 1475 by Martin Schongauer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a winged angel in armor driving a spear through a twisted, clawed monster. Schongauer carved this image into metal first—it’s an engraving, not a painting. Every line had to be cut backward so it would print the right way. The tiny grooves hold ink and press onto paper, letting the same picture travel across Europe. Look up how engraving works, or check out more prints by Martin Schongauer.
