Raphael’s St. Michael originally painted at the request of
Guidobaldo da Montefeltro duke of Urbino in 1504. The painting now resides in
the Louvre. St. Michael who is an archangel; leader of God’s heavenly host. The
painting institutes intrigue as the painting shows Saint Michael vanquishing a
demon underfoot. Which is quite possible to be a parallel on how the Duke of
Urbino at that time viewed himself as the Dukes of Urbino were renowned leaders
who were constantly fighting on different sides of conflicts.
The painting
itself was the first time Raphael painted St. Michael, it is set in a very dark
place similar to that of Dante’s Inferno vision of Hell. The lightest point of
the painting being the shield of St. Michael. The shield being a protective
device representative of how St. Michael is patron saint (protector) of those
who fight. (soldiers and police officers) This shows of how St. Micheal protects his own.
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