Full-length, free-standing sculpture depicting the Archangel Michael defeating the devil. Winged, standing and in a victorious pose, with his left leg bent at the knee, his right arm raised and...
Full-length, free-standing sculpture depicting the Archangel Michael defeating the devil. Winged, standing and in a victorious pose, with his left leg bent at the knee, his right arm raised and brandishing a sword. His wings and plated doublet display varying tones of blue with gold leaf, and the sleeve of his left arm reaches the elbow, decorated with foliage motifs, also blue and gold leaf, on a base of gilt silver to attain a metallic sheen. The cuff of the sleeve is made up of a very thin plate of finely worked gilt copper, imitating lace or gold brocade. He wears a green sash across his chest over his armor and tight to his body, richly decorated with brushed gold leaf, in the form of foliage motifs. He also has a cloak on his right arm, which he wears in an almost casual fashion, fluttering with the movement of the Archangel’s arm, thereby transmitting the sense of flying through the air, and lending the work great dynamism and energy. It is red and also decorated with gilt foliage. He wears a skirt to the knees, which also has gilt copper leaf in the form of lace on the lower hem. The same color, decoration and technique as the aforementioned sleeve. Turquoise Roman sandals with further gilding. With jewels: the armor, sandals and the join between the skirt and the plated doublet. Our anonymous sculptor opted to embellish and heighten the importance of his piece using a range of accessories matching the sort of goldsmith and jewelry work being carried out in the Viceroyalty, such as gold chains, silver filigree accessories and the imitation of precious stones such as emeralds. Between his feet and the flames, in a suffering pose, lies the vanquished devil.