Saint Michael
Original title: Saint Michael
kurzbeschreibung
Agostino Veneziano engraved this print around 1514–16, portraying the Archangel Michael doing battle with the devil. Armoured and sword in hand, the saint stands in a heroic pose, triumphant over his defeated foe.
Description
Michael occupies the middle of the image, his figure set symmetrically and clad in intricately worked armour, wings spread wide. He raises his sword while the devil lies conquered at his feet in a submissive pose. A ring at the angel's neck, enclosed by a circle, may hint at a celestial sphere. Clouds and the beginning of another wing appear behind him. Everything stays monochrome; hatching and line create the effects of light and shadow.
Context
Agostino Veneziano, also called Agostino dei Musi, was an Italian Renaissance engraver who worked in the workshop of Marcantonio Raimondi. The print dates from a period when saints and biblical subjects circulated widely in printed graphics. Michael as dragon-slayer was firmly established in Christian iconography, standing for the victory of good over evil.
Impact
Symmetry and the saint's central placement give the scene a calm, balanced feel. The carefully executed armour and precise linework lend the sheet a clear, almost monumental presence that underscores its heroic mood.
Technique
To make this engraving, the design was cut into a copper plate with a burin and then printed onto paper. Fine lines and hatching build the shading and texture typical of Renaissance printmaking.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)