Art Tour of the Metropolital Mueseam of Art

The Met

While walking around the Metropolitan today I wasn't sure exactly what piece I wanted to write about. One wall caught my eye, and on the wall was the piece Saints Michael and Francis, by Juan de Flandes. It is a Tempera and oil on wood piece, from around 1505. This painting is a beautiful depiction of the Saints Michael and Francis in a very classical, idealized manner. The work is very flat, and has a very classic use of color and line-work. I began researching the painting, and was very curious to learn of why Saint Michael was shown with a staff in hand slaying a creature of some sort. I was unable to find vindication of my curiosity, however I did learn of the story of Saint Michael, and am able to piece the meaning of the work together.

When God created Heaven and the Earth he also created angels and warrior angels, or archangels. The Archangels were the most important angels to God and the closet to him. One archangel was Gabriel, or the angel most commonly known for announcing the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary we have seen depicted in many paintings throughout the semester. Another Archangel was Raphael, and one was Michael, or the "Angel of the Lord." Besides these Archangels was Lucifer, or the "son of morning," because of his beauty.

One day in heaven Lucifer started to question his role in the universe. He began to feel like he was equally important as God and therefore didn't need to ever listen to his word again. Lucifer decided he would gather an army of equally unhappy angels and rise up against God. Lucifer marched his army to the throne of God and pronounced his desire to fight for the Kingdom of Heaven. God reacted rather forgivingly and asked Lucifer if that was exactly what he wanted to do. God even told Lucifer how highly he thought of him, and how much trust he instilled in him as well. Still, Lucifer and his rebel army denounced God, and God summoned Saint Michael to h gather an army to fight Lucifer. Michael and his army of angels fought and were victorious, and Michael drove Lucifer into the depths of hell. Lucifer's army went down right behind him. I also learned that St. Michael's special day of celebration is the Feast of St. Michael. It is also a celebrated day of St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, who helped him win the Battle with Lucifer.

I think that the beast St. Michael is shown stabbing with a staff (in Flandes' painting) is a demonic depiction of either Lucifer himself, or one of the other angels with Lucifer and against God. St. Michael is shown as much idealized, with a very angelic sense to his features, with no clear sexuality defined. This