Saint Michael Archangel, 17th Century Lombard Painter

17th century Lombard painter
Saint Michael Archangel

Oil on canvas
139 x 75 cm. - Framed 156 x 91 cm

Antique painting with St. Michael the Archangel, immortalised full-length as a youth of ethereal beauty, strong and delicate at the same time, who is clothed in shining armour, indicating his role as Prince of the Heavenly Militia, and a shield decorated with grotesques.

We see depicted two of his symbols par excellence, the sword with which he defeated the rebel Angel, lying at his feet now subdued, and the scales with which he weighs souls before their Final Judgement.

This is a fascinating painting by a Lombard painter active in the 17th century, inspired in its execution by the Polyptych of the Certosa di Pavia, commissioned by the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, for the altar of the second chapel on the left, dedicated to St. Michael.

The original work was executed by Pietro Perugino, datable to 1499, and developed on two registers: at the top the Eternal Father (still in situ), at the bottom the three panels with St. Michael the Archangel (left), the Adoration of the Child (centre) and St. Raphael and Tobiolo (right) (1).

The history of this work is interesting: due to the suppression of the Carthusian order in 1782, it was bought by Count Giacomo Melzi d'Eril and ended up in his collection, only to be finally sold in 1856 to the National Gallery in London, where it is still to be found today.

Only the cymatium with the Eternal Father remained in situ, while the missing panels were replaced by copies on 17th-century canvases.

These copies differ somewhat from Perugino's originals in the absence of a landscape setting (the figures are almost immersed in darkness) and in the pictorial style, with chiaroscuro passages interpreted in the manner of Leonardo, and the darkening of St. Michael's armour.

Our canvas is inspired by precisely these versions, made to replace the originals by Perugino(https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/0300702290-4), which critics most probably attribute to the painter Giacomo Antonio Santagostino (1588-1640).

(1) Certosa Museum in Pavia
Pietro known as Perugino (ca.1450/1524
Link: http://www.museo.certosadipavia.beniculturali.it/index.php?it/23/capolavori-della-chiesa-di-santa-ma...

Nota bene:

Good condition. The canvas in the photo is illuminated by artificial lighting from the gallery to make it more readable online, but it is actually darker. If in doubt, please contact the gallery, we will be happy to send you some additional pictures.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The work is completed by a nice golden frame and is sold with a certificate of authenticity and guarantee.

We take care of and organise the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.

It is also possible to see the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda, we will be glad to welcome you to show you our collection of works.

Contact us, without obligation, for any additional information.

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