Artwork
Saint Michael
Saint Michael is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Miguel Ximénez. It dates from 1475 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1475, Saint Michael is an oil painting by the Spanish Gothic artist Miguel Ximénez. Executed while he was active in Zaragoza, the work portrays the archangel in full armor, poised over a defeated creature. The composition combines a gold‑filled background with vivid reds, golds and touches of green, emphasizing the figure’s celestial authority.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure represents the archangel Michael, traditionally seen as the leader of the heavenly hosts who vanquishes evil. He is shown stepping on a small, scaly monster with sharp teeth, a visual shorthand for the triumph of good over sin. The golden halo and the spear reinforce his role as a divine warrior.
Technique & Style
Ximénez renders the armor and wings with pronounced chiaroscuro, giving them a three‑dimensional appearance through deep shadows and bright highlights. The gilded background is patterned with intricate gold motifs and diminutive green leaves, a decorative element typical of late Gothic Spanish panels. The palette is dominated by saturated reds and luminous golds.
History & Provenance
Miguel Ximénez, who served as court painter to Ferdinand II of Aragon from 1484, produced this work during the early Renaissance phase of his career. The painting entered the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Spanish Gothic holdings.
Legacy
Ximénez’s approach to religious iconography and his handling of ornamental detail influenced contemporaries such as Bartolomé Bermejo and shows affinities with the style of Martín Bernat. Saint Michael thus reflects the transitional aesthetics of late 15th‑century Aragon, bridging Gothic traditions and emerging Renaissance sensibilities.
Artist & collection
Artist
Miguel Ximénez (Pareja -Guadalajara-, 15th century) was a Spanish Gothic painter.
