St Michael
Statuette
1510-1520 (made)
1510-1520 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
St Michael was the patron saint of Brussels. Here he is shown trampling on a dog-like dragon. He is seizing its tail with his left hand and raising his right hand to strike the dragon with a sword, now missing. The saint is dressed in a cloak with tasselled edges over a long belted robe. He is also wearing a maniple. This is a strip of fabric worn by a priest on his left arm during Holy Communion.
The base forms part of the statuette which the sculptor has carved in the round. It has lost all traces of paint.
Statuettes of St Michael would have been found everywhere in Brussels, both in the home and in private and guild chapels. People would have used them to help them pray and as protection from evil, temptation and sin.
The base forms part of the statuette which the sculptor has carved in the round. It has lost all traces of paint.
Statuettes of St Michael would have been found everywhere in Brussels, both in the home and in private and guild chapels. People would have used them to help them pray and as protection from evil, temptation and sin.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St Michael (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved oak |
| Brief description | Statuette, St Michael, carved oak, Brussels, ca. 1510-1520 |
| Physical description | The seemingly weightless St Michael tramples on a dog-like dragon, seizing its tail with his left hand and raising his right hand to strike the dragon with a sword. He is dressed in a voluminous cloak with tasselled edges over a long belted robe. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA |
| Object history | Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., in 1951. |
| Historical context | Statuettes of St Michael would have been found everywhere in Brussels, both in the home and in private and guild chapels. People would have used them to help them pray and as protection from evil, temptation and sin. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | St Michael was the patron saint of Brussels. Here he is shown trampling on a dog-like dragon. He is seizing its tail with his left hand and raising his right hand to strike the dragon with a sword, now missing. The saint is dressed in a cloak with tasselled edges over a long belted robe. He is also wearing a maniple. This is a strip of fabric worn by a priest on his left arm during Holy Communion. The base forms part of the statuette which the sculptor has carved in the round. It has lost all traces of paint. Statuettes of St Michael would have been found everywhere in Brussels, both in the home and in private and guild chapels. People would have used them to help them pray and as protection from evil, temptation and sin. |
| Bibliographic reference | Williamson, Paul, Netherlandish Sculpture 1450-1550 , London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, pp. 134-5, ill., cat. no. 42 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.10-1951 |
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| Record created | December 11, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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