This engraving, printed from the original plates at the Louvre's Chalcography Workshop, recreates the biblical scene painted by Raphael. With this work based on Raphael's painting-printed on Hahnemühle paper in a 56 x 38 cm format-the Chalcography Workshop is offering a limited edition of ten numbered copies.
The work reproduces Raphael's original composition, commissioned in 1518 by Leo X for Francis I. This "Great Saint Michael," housed at the Louvre alongside the "Little Saint Michael," illustrates the Book of Revelation: in it, the winged archangel in armor slays the dragon embodying Satan.
Statues, sculptures, and other depictions of Saint Michael
At the summit of the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, the gilded statue created by Emmanuel Frémiet in 1897 stands over four meters tall. There, the archangel brandishes his sword to slay the dragon, protecting this iconic site founded in the 8th century.
This motif has also found its way into tattoo art, where it is prized as a protective talisman. It embodies courage in the face of adversity and the universal victory of good over the forces of darkness.
To learn more about the artwork
Why is Saint Michael fighting the dragon?
According to the Book of Revelation, a battle in heaven pits the archangel Michael and his angels against the dragon, a symbol of evil and Satan. Victorious, Michael casts the dragon down to earth-a scene that Raphael immortalized in this painting commissioned by Pope Leo X.
Who slays the dragon: Saint Michael or Saint George?
The two figures are often confused, but their stories differ. Saint Michael, the archangel, fights the dragon in a heavenly battle pitting the forces of good against those of evil, as depicted in Raphael's painting. Saint George, a knight and martyr, confronts an earthly dragon to rescue a princess-a later episode derived from the medieval Golden Legend.
What is the legend of Saint Michael?
The legend tells that the archangel Michael appeared in a dream to Bishop Aubert of Avranches in the 8th century, commanding him to build a sanctuary on a rocky islet. Faced with the prelate's hesitation, Michael had to repeat his command three times, even going so far as to mark the bishop's skull with his finger. Thus was born Mont-Saint-Michel, a major pilgrimage site ever since.
Who is the Archangel Saint Michael?
Saint Michael is the most famous of the archangels; his name means "who is like God." As protector of the Church and leader of the heavenly armies, he also guides the souls of the departed-a role that explains his frequent depiction in art as a warrior vanquishing evil.
