Lombard School Artist, Saint Michael the Archangel, 1650, Oil on Canvas

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17th-century Lombard painter
Saint Michael the Archangel

Oil on canvas

139 x 75 cm - Framed 156 x 91 cm

… Read more 17th-century Lombard painter
Saint Michael the Archangel

Oil on canvas

139 x 75 cm - Framed 156 x 91 cm

Ancient painting of Saint Michael the Archangel, immortalized full-length as a youth of ethereal beauty, simultaneously strong and delicate, with large wings and a shield decorated with grotesques, clad in gleaming armor, indicating his role as prince of the celestial armies.

We see two of his quintessential symbols depicted: the sword with which he defeated the rebel Angel, now subdued at his feet, and the scales with which he weighs souls before their Last Judgment.

This is a fascinating painting by a Lombard painter active in the 17th century, inspired 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 Saint Michael.

The original work was executed by Pietro Perugino, dated 1499, and was arranged in two registers: the Eternal Father at the top (still in situ), and the three panels with Saint Michael the Archangel (left), the Adoration of the Child (center), and Saint Raphael and Tobias (right) (1) at the bottom.

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

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

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

Our canvas is inspired by these versions, created to replace Perugino's originals, which critics most likely attribute to the painter Giacomo Antonio Santagostino (1588-1640).

(1) Certosa di Pavia Museum, Pietro Vannucci known as Perugino (ca. 1450/1524)

Please note:
Good condition. The canvas in the photo is illuminated by artificial gallery lights to improve readability when viewing it online, but it actually appears darker.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The work is presented in a beautiful gold frame and is sold with a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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