Artwork
Saint Michael
Saint Michael is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Archangel Michael, a celestial warrior saint central to Christian tradition. As a religious work dated to 1530, it likely served a devotional purpose, emphasizing Michael’s role as a protector and symbol of the triumph of good over evil. The subject’s identification as Michael anchors the painting’s meaning within the broader context of sixteenth‑century religious art.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint Michael was created in 1530 as a religious work depicting the archangel Michael. Although the specific artist remains anonymous, the piece is dated firmly to the early sixteenth century. The work eventually entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held and displayed as part of their holdings in religious art.
Overview
This sculptural work, titled Saint Michael, portrays the archangel in a triumphant stance. The figure, dressed in a flowing robe and wielding a sword, stands decisively over a defeated dragon. The composition captures a moment of victory, emphasizing the figure's authority and the conclusion of a struggle.
Technique & Style
The artist employed a medium capable of rendering intricate details, visible in the elaborate design of the robe and the sword. Textural variations are apparent, from the folds of the figure's clothing to the distinct scales of the dragon. The interplay of dark and light elements, alongside the dynamic pose, contributes to the overall sense of movement and dramatic action within the sculpture.
Artist & collection
- Saint Michael the Archangel. Altar retable from the church in Moszczenica Niżna – finial.
Copy of a detail of the Ghent Altarpiece, St John the Evangelist, by Hubert and Jan van Eyck in the church of St Bavon, Ghent.
Saint Barbara
Saint Frederick
St. John the Evangelist, probably from a Crucifixion Group
Angel
Saint Stephen
Virgin Annunciate
Figure of an angel on her knees in red terra cotta
John the Evangelist
Copy of a detail of the Ghent Altarpiece, St John the Baptist by Hubert and Jan van Eyck in the church of St Bavon, Ghent.
Saint James