Approximately 8' high x Approximately 3.5' wide x 0
2024
Private Collection
Painted at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Sutter Creek, CA, St. Michael is one of three Archangels painted in the narthex of the Church. The painting depicts St. Michael as he is slaying Satan, represented by a Dragon. The Dragon is beautifully colored, representing that Evil is often attractive and beguiling. The Archangel is barefoot, keeping with the medieval Catholic tradition of depicting angels with no shoes; after all, what use are shoes when they can fly? St. Michael stands in front of a deep red drapery. Behind the curtain is a pattern. That pattern, again in keeping with the Middle Ages Sacred Art traditions, symbolizes the Heavenly Realm because that realm where Gods resides is considered to be orderly and mathematical and logical. The scene is set up with the Archangel outside of the Heavenly Realm, as he battles the devil and casts him out of Heaven. The Archangel stands on a tromp l’oeil plinth, with a carved panel showing his name and the meaning of that name in Hebrew: “Who Is Like God?”. The name derives from the war-cry of the Archangel, challenging Satan who has proudly pronounced his equivalency with God.
Painted at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Sutter Creek, CA, St. Michael is one of three Archangels painted in the narthex of the Church. The painting depicts St. Michael as he is slaying Satan, represented by a Dragon. The Dragon is beautifully colored, representing that Evil is often attractive and beguiling. The Archangel is barefoot, keeping with the medieval Catholic tradition of depicting angels with no shoes; after all, what use are shoes when they can fly? St. Michael stands in front of a deep red drapery. Behind the curtain is a pattern. That pattern, again in keeping with the Middle Ages Sacred Art traditions, symbolizes the Heavenly Realm because that realm where Gods resides is considered to be orderly and mathematical and logical. The scene is set up with the Archangel outside of the Heavenly Realm, as he battles the devil and casts him out of Heaven. The Archangel stands on a tromp l’oeil plinth, with a carved panel showing his name and the meaning of that name in Hebrew: “Who Is Like God?”. The name derives from the war-cry of the Archangel, challenging Satan who has proudly pronounced his equivalency with God.