Artwork
Saint Michael and the Dragon
Saint Michael and the Dragon is a tempera painting. It dates from 1405 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A golden-robed figure with a halo stands on a dragon, sword in one hand and shield in the other, foot pressed to its neck. The dragon twists below, mouth open, wings and tail thrashing. Against gold leaf and faded red patterns, the armored saint reads as a holy warrior defeating evil. Tempera, 1405.
Subject & Meaning
This iconography aligns with late medieval religious art, where such depictions served to illustrate spiritual struggle and divine intervention.
The painting depicts Saint Michael triumphing over a dragon, a scene rooted in the apocryphal War in Heaven, where Michael and his angels battle the dragon (Revelation 12:7–9). Michael is shown armored and winged, wielding a sword and shield, and is often interpreted as a symbol of divine justice and protection. The dragon represents evil or Satan, subdued under Michael’s authority, reinforcing the theme of good overcoming evil.
This iconography aligns with late medieval religious art, where such depictions served to illustrate spiritual struggle and divine intervention.
Technique & Style
Saint Michael and the Dragon, executed in 1405, is a religious painting created using tempera on a wooden panel support. The work measures 105.1 cm in height and 103.5 cm in width. As a panel painting from the early 15th century, the artist employed traditional tempera techniques to depict the central narrative of the War in Heaven.
The composition features the archangel Michael engaged in combat with a dragon, using iconographic elements such as a sword, armor, wings, and a shield. These formal qualities align with the Valencian Spanish artistic tradition of the period, focusing on the dramatic confrontation between the celestial warrior and the demonic figure. The medium and support are consistent with high-status religious commissions of the era.
History & Provenance
Saint Michael and the Dragon is a tempera-on-panel work dated 1405, attributed to a Spanish (Valencian) painter and depicting the Archangel Michael battling a dragon in the War in Heaven. It measures approximately 105.1 by 103.5 centimeters and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Beyond its date of inception and its present institutional custody, the available records do not document the earlier ownership chain, the circumstances of its commission, an accession number, or any exhibition history.
Overview
This painting, titled Saint Michael and the Dragon, presents a central scene from Christian iconography. It features the archangel Michael, distinguished by his halo and golden attire, in the act of conquering a formidable dragon. The artwork powerfully conveys the triumph of divine righteousness over malevolent forces, rendered with a directness and visual intensity characteristic of its medium and the artistic traditions it represents.
Artist & collection
