The Archangel Michael with the Dragon 1498 - 1501

This anonymous painting from the late 15th century, housed in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, depicts the Archangel Michael defeating the dragon, a popular subject in Christian art. The scene is set against a backdrop of a cityscape and a distant landscape. The Archangel, clad in armor and a flowing robe, raises his sword above his head, ready to strike the defeated dragon, which lies beneath him. The dragon, depicted as a monstrous beast with sharp claws and a gaping maw, struggles in vain against the archangel's power. The work's composition is dynamic, emphasizing the struggle between good and evil, a central theme in religious art. This painting exemplifies the blend of biblical imagery and artistic technique common to Northern European art of the late Middle Ages.