St. Michael Battling a Demon
ca. 1440
The Netherlands, Utrecht
MS M.917/945, p. 44–f. 123r
Purchased on the Belle da Costa Greene Fund with the assistance of the Fellows, 1963; purchased on the Belle da Costa Greene Fund with the assistance of the Fellows and with special assistance of Mrs. Frederick B. Adams, Sr., Mrs. Robert Charles, Mr. L
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The last of the miniatures for the Hours of All Saints is this unusual—but striking—image of Michael engaged in a fierce fight with a demon. (All the other miniatures in the series depict quiet adoration of the Godhead.) Michael's face might remain calm, but his windblown clothing reflects the heat of his battle against an especially nasty-looking demon. The white tendrils of the background, while decorative, contribute to the sense of agitation.