Saint Michael the Archangel

Oil on canvas

143 x 100 cm.
Framed (with defects and losses) 155 x 110 cm.

The large canvas under consideration here, of excellent quality, is a reproduction of the famous Saint Michael the Archangel painted by Guido Reni in 1635 for the Church of the Capuchins in Rome (photo 1), built thanks to a donation by Cardinal Antonio Barberini (1569–1646), brother of Urban VIII.

Following a long and intensive period of training in Bologna, which culminated at the Accademia dei Carracci in 1602, the twenty-seven-year-old Guido Reni travelled to Rome, where he soon became a celebrated artist in the most influential circles and secured the patronage of prominent figures such as Popes Paul V, Urban VIII and Scipione Borghese.

The entire composition celebrates the ‘ideal of beauty’ through the Archangel Michael, engaged in battle against Evil, depicted in the guise of a young divine warrior, strong yet delicate at the same time; the violence of the clash gives way to absolute elegance, as Michael, almost effortlessly and with outstretched wings, tramples upon the head of a defeated Satan.

He wears classic Roman armour in an iridescent metallic blue, which highlights his muscular build, yet is balanced by the celestial and idealised grace of his beautiful face.

A soft drape of red silk envelops the angel’s body and billows vigorously behind him, creating a striking theatrical contrast with the cool tones of the armour, symbolising the fire of divine zeal, royalty and passion in the struggle against evil.

The painting was met with great acclaim and esteem by his contemporaries, and enjoyed immediate, incredible success, partly due to the controversy it sparked amongst the Pamphili family—who had long been at odds with the Barberini, the patrons who commissioned the work: an interesting historical detail suggests that the devil’s features were modelled, as an act of personal revenge by the painter, on the face of the future Pope Innocent X (Giovanni Battista Pamphilj).

Given the period and the quality of this painting, it is likely to have originated from the prolific workshop of Guido Reni and was therefore executed by one of his skilled collaborators.

We are inclined to attribute its execution to Giovan Andrea Sirani (Bologna, 1610–1670), one of his finest pupils and an exceptional draughtsman – so much so that the master even entrusted him with the task of transferring the cartoons onto the canvases and sketching them out, thereby bringing him into constant contact with the original designs of the works.

We know that, by virtue of the great trust Reni placed in him, Sirani produced numerous replicas of Reni’s most successful compositions; these include variations on iconic subjects such as Judith with the Head of Holofernes, the Madonna in Ecstasy and variations on the Allegory of Fortune.

With regard to the subject under consideration, there is one known canvas, painted by Giovan Andrea Sirani himself, which very faithfully replicates its subject and characteristics, and is now housed at the Bob Jones Museum in South Carolina (United States of America) (photo 2 – https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/60922/).

The style of the faces in Sirani’s works is closely linked to the influence of his master, adopting the same classicist idealisation, with extremely soft and noble features, whilst always maintaining a solid anatomical structure, with clear details in the contours of the eyes, lips and hairstyles.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold complete with an antique frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet.

We arrange and organise the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, using professional and insured carriers.

Should you wish to view this or other works in person, we would be delighted to welcome you to our new gallery in Riva del Garda, at Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We look forward to seeing you!

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