The Archangel Michael

The Archangel Michael is an oil and tooled gold on panel painting created between 1500 and 1503 by Juan Ximénez, a Spanish artist active in Aragon who is first documented in 1500 and died in 1505.¹ The work measures 50 1/2 × 22 11/16 inches (128.3 × 57.6 cm) and was made in Spain.² It is classified as a painting and is part of the John G. Johnson Collection, acquired in 1917 (Accession No. Inv. 183).³ The composition presents the archangel as a solemn, highly refined devotional figure, and the extensive use of tooled gold emphasizes a radiant, sacred space that removes the figure from the natural world and reinforces his divine status.

Rubinstein describes a late fifteenth-century image of Saint Michael standing in a highly ordered, symbolic setting defined by a golden background and a floor of square mosaics, which together remove the scene from an earthly environment and establish a sacred, timeless space.⁴ The archangel is presented as a fully armored warrior, wearing a closely fitted suit of armor over a black coat of chain mail that encloses his entire body, arms, and legs, reinforcing his role as a divine protector.⁵ His appearance is further enriched by a dark blue mantle lined in red and edged with a wide golden border, which hangs in a controlled and elegant drape from his shoulders, adding both richness and visual structure to the figure.⁶ He also wears low red shoes with large tips, a detail that helps situate the image stylistically within the late fifteenth century while contributing to the carefully described, courtly appearance of the saint.⁷ His wings rise behind his shoulders, and his youthful, almost delicate face—framed by soft, curly brown hair—contrasts with his role as a warrior, while his half-closed eyes are directed downward toward the defeated monster.⁸ The creature is shown as a horned, half-animal figure beneath him, which he subdues by plunging his spear into its mouth while holding a shield for protection.⁹ Despite this violent action, Rubinstein emphasizes the overwhelming sense of restraint, noting the saint’s “great simplicity and calm” and his victory over evil “without the least effort,” as he remains serene, tranquil, and entirely assured in his divine mission.¹⁰

The Archangel Michael is a prominent figure in Christian scripture and tradition, most notably associated with spiritual warfare and divine judgment. In the Bible, Michael is described as a chief prince and protector of God’s people, appearing in moments of cosmic conflict between good and evil. In the Book of Daniel, he is portrayed as a heavenly defender who rises to protect Israel during times of tribulation, emphasizing his role as a guardian figure acting on behalf of divine authority.¹¹ In the Book of Revelation, Michael leads the heavenly armies in a climactic battle against the dragon, symbolizing Satan, and casts him out of heaven along with the rebellious angels.¹² This victory establishes Michael as a central symbol of divine justice, triumph over evil, and the ultimate protection of God’s order, themes that underpin many artistic depictions of the archangel as a victorious warrior subduing demonic forces.

Footnotes

1. Philadelphia Museum of Art, “The Archangel Michael,” object no. 103615, https://www.philamuseum.org/objects/103615.

2. Philadelphia Museum of Art, “The Archangel Michael.”

3. Philadelphia Museum of Art, “The Archangel Michael.”

4. Stella Rubinstein, “A French Painting of St. Michael of the Late Fifteenth Century,” Arts & Decoration 7, no. 5 (1917): 249, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43808977.

5. Rubinstein, 249.

6. Rubinstein, 249.

7. Rubinstein, 249.

8. Rubinstein, 249.

9. Rubinstein, 249.

10. Rubinstein, 249.

11. The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Daniel 10:13; 12:1.

12. The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revelation 12:7–9.

Bibliography

Philadelphia Museum of Art. “The Archangel Michael.” Object no. 103615. https://www.philamuseum.org/objects/103615.

Rubinstein, Stella. “A French Painting of St. Michael of the Late Fifteenth Century.” Arts & Decoration 7, no. 5 (1917): 247–50. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43808977.

The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version. Daniel 10:13; 12:1. Revelation 12:7–9.