Alessandro AlgardiItalian, 1595–1654St Michael Overcoming Satan
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Not receiving at present
Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
About the sculpture
This is a bronze group designed by Alessandro Algardi (1595-1654), in the first quarter of the 17th century.
Alessandro Algardi (1595-1654) was an Italian sculptor, architect and draughtsman. Alongside Bernini he was the most important sculptor in Rome active around the middle of the 17th century. He produced the classizing antithesis to Bernini's High Baroque sculpture. They were seen and experienced at the time as rivals and equals.
The subject of St Michael overcoming Satan was quite popular in the Counter-Reformation time in Italy, allowing the Catholic Church to associate the theme with their 'battle' over the Protestants.
Read on
The archangel Michael is the first of the angels. He is often represented in armour with a sword and standing over or fighting with a dragon or he is shown with scales. God sent him to overcome Lucifer and he is also regarded as the angel of the Resurrection. He would receive the souls of the dead weighing them in his balance.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- A.56-1951
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum: the museum's own open data · fetched 12 days ago
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
