St. Michael the Archangel

  • St. Michael the Archangel

    St. Michael the Archangel

    João Afonso - Inv. 1194 Esc

Through the restrained gesture with which he crushes the dragon at his feet, with the spear ending in the cross of the Order of Avis, as well as through the heavenly smile lightly sketched on his face and the fine balance between the S-shape of the composition and the elongated proportion of the figure protected by his long wings, this Archangel materialises the very symbolism of the scales that he uses for the judgement of souls, showing himself to be the heavenly messenger who exercises justice in his assessment of men’s time on earth.

The work has been attributed to João Afonso, the master of the Gothic workshops of Coimbra that were active at that time.