Saint Michael and the Devil
1475/1500
Medium
Poplar, formerly polychromed and gilded
Dimensions
52.4 × 22.9 × 21.3 cm (20 5/8 × 9 × 8 3/4 in.)
Classification
sculpture
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
184324
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Saint Michael was one of the seven archangels of God in the Old Testament, and he led the heavenly host against God’s enemies in the book of Revelation. This sculpture represents Michael’s battle against Satan, who lies at his feet, pierced by the saint’s lance. This subject would inevitably have been associated with the hope of salvation, since Saint Michael was often depicted weighing the souls of the blessed and the damned in images of the Last Judgment. This wood sculpture is a powerful exam...