Aartsengel Michaël 1637 - 1691

This engraving of 'Aartsengel Michaël' was created by Nicolo Billy, presenting a scene teeming with symbolic activity. The composition is neatly stratified into three horizontal sections, each contributing to a layered narrative. The upper section shows a gathering of divine figures. The middle section depicts Michael the Archangel in dynamic descent, subduing a multi-headed beast, emphasizing the symbolic victory of good over evil. A semiotic reading of the chains binding the monster suggests a constraint on chaotic forces. The bottom section represents a fiery underworld, completing the cosmological schema. Notice how Billy uses the formal structure of the image to reinforce hierarchical and theological concepts. The linear precision and tonal contrasts serve not merely as aesthetic choices, but as structural components that guide the viewer through a symbolic space. This artwork, therefore, is not just a visual representation but a structured argument, inviting continuous interpretation.