Follower of Guido Reni, Archangel Michael, 1700, Oil on Canvas

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Description

The archangel michael

guido reni (bologna 1575 - 1642) follower of

17th-18th century

oil on canvas (134 x 96 cm … Read more The archangel michael

guido reni (bologna 1575 - 1642) follower of

17th-18th century

oil on canvas (134 x 96 cm - framed 147 x 108 cm)

the work in question, of excellent quality and preservation, is based on guido reni's famous altarpiece of saint michael the archangel, painted in 1635 for the church of the capuchins in rome (photo 1 **), erected with a donation from cardinal antonio barberini (1569-1646), brother of urban viii.

the great painter moved to rome in 1602, after an intense training in bologna, quickly becoming a renowned interpreter of the tastes of the most culturally influential circles, and earning the patronage of great figures such as popes paul v, urban viii, and scipione borghese.

the painting depicts the majestic figure of saint michael, the archangel engaged here in the battle against evil. He is depicted as a young man of rare beauty, simultaneously strong and delicate, who, with his sword drawn, pushes an angry devil back to hell, trampling his head underfoot. The soft draperies envelop the angel's body with an intense classicism, where a balanced composition draws the viewer's attention to his angelic face.

it was widely recognized and esteemed by his contemporaries, and the painting immediately enjoyed incredible success, partly due to the controversy it sparked from the pamphili family, a family long at odds with the barberini family, who commissioned the canvas. Reni, in fact, having learned that cardinal giovanni battista pamphili, the future pope innocent x, had defamed him, in revenge, he personified the devil with the face of the same cardinal.

guido reni's cunning was to exploit the historic rivalry between two of the most influential families of 17th-century rome for his own personal revenge, while simultaneously bringing his work sudden fame.

reni attempted this subject on several occasions, greatly appreciated by his clients thanks to the composition's formal clarity and balanced balance, elements that still make it one of the cornerstones of roman classicism.
with the help of his workshop, he often returned to the same subjects, producing versions of his most successful compositions. This makes it difficult to distinguish between workshop replicas, often enhanced by his intervention, and posthumous copies that become independent reinterpretations by some of his best students or followers.

**saint michael the archangel, 1635 - guido reni (bologna, 1575 - 1642)
oil on silk; 295 x 202 cm
rome, church of santa maria immacolata concezione

additional information:

the painting is sold complete with a gold frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic . 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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