Michael kämpft mit dem Teufel 

Michelangelo Unterberger’s drawing depicts the archangel Michael battling the devil with sanguine on paper. Made in the 18th century, this drawing reflects the visual codes of the Catholic Church. The figure of Michael as God’s warrior has clear political meaning. At a time when the Vatican was still a major temporal power, images of Michael defeating Lucifer reinforced the divine right of the church to rule over earthly affairs. Theatines, such as Unterberger, were closely linked to the Habsburg emperors in Vienna. They received significant patronage in exchange for their loyalty. This drawing of Michael thus carries undertones of institutional power. Historians might research the role of the Theatine order in disseminating the power of the church to understand this drawing better. They might also reflect on the nature of art as something that is often contingent on social and institutional context.