Saint Michael 1467 - 1907

Neroccio de' Landi painted this depiction of Saint Michael in the 15th century. The archangel stands triumphant, holding scales and a spear over a defeated serpent—symbols laden with meaning. The scales, traditionally associated with justice and balance, evoke ancient Egyptian depictions of the weighing of souls. This symbol migrated through cultures, resurfacing here as a metaphor for moral judgment. The serpent, crushed beneath Michael’s feet, embodies chaos and temptation, harking back to the biblical fall of man. It is a motif that appears throughout history, from ancient Mesopotamian art to Renaissance paintings, constantly reborn with new layers of meaning. Consider the psychological weight of these symbols. The scales speak to our innate desire for order, while the serpent embodies our deepest fears. This image, steeped in collective memory, taps into primal emotions, reminding us of the eternal struggle between order and chaos within the human psyche.