Artwork
Saint Michael
Saint Michael is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Miguel Ximénez. It dates from 1475 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The panel depicts the archangel Michael in full military regalia, standing atop a dragon whose gaping maw and scaly body he pierces with a lance.
The panel depicts the archangel Michael in full military regalia, standing atop a dragon whose gaping maw and scaly body he pierces with a lance. The saint’s plumed helmet, gilded cuirass, and fluttering cloak identify him as the warrior-angel who defeats the forces of evil, a role drawn from the Book of Revelation. The dragon’s defeat symbolizes the triumph of Christian virtue over sin and the apocalyptic victory of good over evil, a theme common in late-medieval and early-Renaissance religious art.
Technique & Style
Created by Miguel Ximénez between 1475 and 1480, Saint Michael is a religious painting executed on a panel support. The work measures 123.5 cm in height and 60.8 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on the depiction of body armor, reflecting the martial iconography associated with the archangel. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint Michael was created by the artist Miguel Ximénez in 1475. While one record lists the inception date as January 1, 1475, another source indicates the work originated in 1480. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. The work is classified as a religious painting depicting a figure in body armor.
The painting Saint Michael by Miguel Ximénez is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Created in 1475, the work depicts the archangel clad in body armor. The panel measures 123.5 cm in height and 60.8 cm in width.
While the artwork is part of the museum's permanent holdings, the available records do not list specific inventory numbers or detail a history of temporary exhibitions for this piece.
Legacy
The painting's influence is noted through its inclusion in the Museo del Prado's collection and its continued scholarly attention as a representative work of late 15th-century Spanish religious art. Its precise composition, featuring figures in body armor, has been cited in studies of devotional imagery from the period. The work remains accessible to the public at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is part of the permanent display of early Iberian painting.
Overview
Created circa 1475, Saint Michael is an oil painting by the Spanish Gothic artist Miguel Ximénez. Executed while he was active in Zaragoza, the work portrays the archangel in full armor, poised over a defeated creature. The composition combines a gold‑filled background with vivid reds, golds and touches of green, emphasizing the figure’s celestial authority.
Artist & collection
Artist
Miguel Ximénez (Pareja -Guadalajara-, 15th century) was a Spanish Gothic painter.
