St. Michael and Archangels (The Seven Archangels) 1570 - 1619

Curator: Looking at this print, "St. Michael and Archangels" by Hieronymus Wierix, I’m immediately struck by the almost militant symmetry of it all. What jumps out at you? Editor: That laser beam of light hitting the archangel Michael, positioned directly below the dove, is, I think, supposed to inspire. But honestly, it just makes him look like he's in the divine spotlight for a somewhat bizarre audition. The engraving almost feels like it’s staging some epic showdown between darkness and overwhelming detail. Curator: The detail is incredible, isn't it? Wierix made this sometime between 1570 and 1619, using engraving, which is such a painstaking process. The array of symbols surrounding each angel, and the Holy Trinity floating on a fluffy cloud, they all signify something more profound. Each archangel bears unique iconographic elements. Gabriel, for instance, seems to be holding a mirror, Raphael leads a young boy, while Michael, armed to the teeth, tramples a rather unimpressive devil underfoot. What do these elements suggest about how angels function? Editor: To me, these symbols reveal angels not as simple messengers of the divine, but as active participants in human experience. Gabriel’s mirror reflecting truth, Raphael’s guiding hand representing safe passage, and Michael's combativeness against evil – these are emotional touchstones, visually codified over centuries. This is emotional literacy! Curator: The very arrangement, from the divine figures on high to Michael poised above earthly struggles, really does suggest a visual hierarchy of intervention. Heaven observing, yet intimately involved. Wierix is playing with our sense of scale too, isn't he? Cramming the sacred figures and angels together, creating this palpable sense of immediacy. Editor: And in doing so, this detailed Baroque composition actually becomes quite intimate. We're invited to participate in a cosmic drama, to see ourselves as implicated in the battle between light and shadow. Wierix understands the cultural power of archetypes, doesn't he? We recognize them instinctively. It’s a reminder that some stories echo endlessly. Curator: Indeed, and the sheer abundance of detail perhaps underlines the belief that every facet of existence has a deeper spiritual significance, which might be something worth considering, going back to our everyday lives after viewing it. Editor: Exactly. Maybe art can really inspire us to see every moment as touched by the symbolic richness of a very old story.