Artwork
Arhanghelul Mihail
Arhanghelul Mihail is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1773 and is held in the collection of the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum. The image depicts a winged, armored figure crowned with a golden halo, standing over a smaller, prone figure.
About this work
Overview
The image depicts a winged, armored figure crowned with a golden halo, standing over a smaller, prone figure. The dominant palette includes gold, red, and blue, with the background rendered chiefly in blue and accented by gold lettering at the top that reads “ΜΙΧΑΗΛ” in Greek.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure represents the Archangel Michael, a celestial warrior in Christian tradition, identified by the halo and martial attire. The fallen figure beneath suggests a defeated adversary, a common visual metaphor for the triumph of good over evil.
Technique & Style
Executed in a vivid, flat color scheme, the composition employs stylized, elongated forms and decorative detailing typical of Byzantine-influenced religious iconography. The use of gold leaf or pigment for the halo and lettering emphasizes sanctity, while the red cloak and armor convey authority.
Context
The work follows a longstanding convention in Eastern Orthodox art of portraying archangels with halos, wings, and symbolic weaponry. The Greek inscription aligns the piece with liturgical settings where such images functioned as visual aids for devotion and instruction.
Artist & collection
Museum
"Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum
Continue through works from the same source collection.
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Family Group of Four on Sofa
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