Artwork
Saint Michael
Saint Michael is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Lucas Franchoys the Younger. It dates from 1648 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Lucas Franchoys the Younger, a 17th‑century painter from Mechelen, executed the oil painting *Saint Michael* in 1648. The work is part of the Detroit Institute of Arts’ holdings and exemplifies the dramatic religious compositions typical of the Flemish Baroque period.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays the archangel Michael triumphing over a defeated beast, commonly interpreted as a demon or dragon. Michael is armored, brandishing a sword and shield, embodying the triumph of divine order over chaos, a theme frequently emphasized in Counter‑Reformation art.
Technique & Style
Franchoys employs strong chiaroscuro, using light to model the gleaming armor against the shadowy form of the creature. The composition’s diagonal thrust and vivid contrast create a sense of movement and tension, echoing the influence of Anthony van Dyck on the artist’s Baroque vocabulary.
History & Provenance
Created at the height of Flemish Baroque activity, the painting later entered the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Its provenance before acquisition by the museum is not extensively documented, but it reflects the artist’s reputation for altarpieces and portraiture during his lifetime.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Franchoys the Younger or Lucas Franchoys II (28 June 1616 in Mechelen – 3 April 1681 in Mechelen) was a Flemish Baroque painter from Mechelen, who painted numerous altarpieces and portraits in a style reminiscent of Anthony van Dyck.
François Vilain de Gand, baron de Rassenghem. Bishop of Tournai (1647-66)
Adoration of the shepherds
Saint Louis IX, King of France, Receives Pierre de Corbie
Portrait of François de Gand-Vilain (1647-1666), Bishop of Doornik
Madonna Appears to Saint Simon Stock
The Virgin and Child in a Glory of Angels
