Saint Michael c. 1450 - 1470

This image of Saint Michael was made by an anonymous artist using humble materials: likely ink, tempera, or watercolor on parchment. The artist would have first carefully prepared the parchment surface, before delicately applying thin layers of pigment. Notice how the bright red of Michael’s robe and wings contrasts with the green ground and the pale skin tones. The use of such a rudimentary method of image making, with these limited colours and minimal shading, makes the act of weighing souls immediate and direct. Consider also that even this small artwork would have required a significant investment of time, and skilled labor. The production of illuminated manuscripts like this one, supported a whole network of scribes, artists, and bookbinders. By focusing on the material and the making, we can see how this image of Saint Michael speaks not only of religious devotion, but also of the social and economic realities of its time.