Artwork
Saint Michael Slaying the Dragon
Saint Michael Slaying the Dragon is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Martin Schongauer. It dates from 1485 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Saint Michael Slaying the Dragon is a late 15th-century engraving on laid paper, attributed to Martin Schongauer, a prominent Alsatian artist of the Northern Renaissance.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts the archangel Michael vanquishing a dragon, a symbol of evil, conveying a religious narrative of good triumphing over malevolence.
Technique & Style
Schongauer employed sharp, intricate linework, characteristic of Northern Renaissance printmaking, with crisscrossed textures for the angel's wings and dragon's scales, and expressive shading to enhance drama.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1485, this work is one of 116 engravings by Schongauer, marked with his monogram, preceding the notable output of Albrecht Dürer.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
