About this work

A black-and-white panel mixing text and symbols, the letters set in a blocky old-style font and arranged in a grid among hearts and shields. Some shields carry simple marks, a cross or a bird; others stay blank. Swirling hand-drawn patterns frame the edges.

The date 1446 sits in a bottom corner, and the text reads like a mix of names and Latin, perhaps a family record.

Subject & Meaning

Michael's role as the weigher is visually emphasized by the inclusion of a scale, symbolizing divine justice and the assessment of human morality.

The work depicts the Archangel Michael engaged in a weighing of souls, a central motif in Christian eschatology. In this religious composition, the saint is shown alongside a dragon and a human figure, representing the cosmic struggle between good and evil and the judgment of the dead. Michael's role as the weigher is visually emphasized by the inclusion of a scale, symbolizing divine justice and the assessment of human morality.

The imagery draws upon traditional hagiographic iconography where Michael acts as the psychopomp, guiding souls or weighing their deeds against the weight of sin.

Technique & Style

Executed in 2000, this religious painting utilizes tempera applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 25.4 cm in height and 14.3 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece functions as a copy after the composition of Neroccio de' Landi.

The visual narrative depicts the Archangel Michael engaged with a dragon, incorporating the iconographic element of a weighing scale.

History & Provenance

The painting titled Saint Michael is a tempera-on-panel work dated to the year 2000. It is classified as a copy after the Sienese master Neroccio de' Landi. The artwork depicts the Archangel Michael standing over a dragon while holding a set of weighing scales, alongside a human figure.

It resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is cataloged under the accession number 07.24.24. The dimensions of the panel measure 25.4 centimetres in height and 14.3 centimetres in width.

Legacy

The 2000 tempera panel titled Saint Michael is recorded as a copy after the 15th-century Sienese painter Neroccio de' Landi and is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Its depiction of the archangel confronting a dragon with a scale reflects the traditional iconography established by Neroccio de' Landi, demonstrating continuity of the devotional image into the early 21st century.

Overview

Titled "Saint Michael," this tempera painting from 1446 is presented as a black-and-white panel. The artwork features a structured arrangement of text and heraldic symbols, including shields and heart shapes, bordered by decorative swirling patterns. Despite its religious title, the visual composition suggests a genealogical or commemorative purpose, blending traditional elements with a distinctive graphic style characteristic of its period.

Context

Dated prominently to 1446, this panel reflects a period when heraldry and genealogical records held significant social and historical importance. The inclusion of shields, names, and Latin phrases aligns with practices of documenting lineage or affiliations. While the specific context of its creation is not detailed, the artwork likely served a commemorative or archival function within a family or institution, preserving a visual record of identity and heritage from the mid-15th century.