Saint Michael Overcoming Satan 1842

Edward William Wyon's bronze statuette, *Saint Michael Overcoming Satan,* presents a classic struggle between good and evil. The lack of date makes it difficult to know exactly when this was made, but it would likely be in the mid 19th century in Britain. The visual codes of the piece are highly evocative. Note the idealized, almost classical, representation of St. Michael. This is juxtaposed with the grotesque, animalistic depiction of Satan, emphasizing their opposition. Britain at the time was an expanding empire, where the church played an important role in establishing a cultural hegemony. The figures can be understood as representing the struggle between British values, represented by St. Michael, and the perceived barbarity of foreign cultures, represented by Satan. This sculpture embodies the moral justifications used to support imperial expansion. To truly understand this artwork, one would need to delve into the visual culture of Victorian Britain and the complex relationship between religion, nationalism, and imperialism. This piece is a potent reminder that art is always entangled with the social and institutional contexts in which it is produced.