Saint Michael the Archangel Painting
Artist: Unknown
School: Viceroyalty of Peru (Cuzco School influence)
Date: 18th Century
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: [Insert when available]
Provenance: Templum Fine Art Auctions, Gran Subasta Navideña, 2024
Restoration: Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration, Chicago, IL (In Progress)
Framing: In progress
This Saint Michael the Archangel painting from the 18th century shows the archangel in a dramatic pose. With sword raised and scales of justice in hand, he defeats the dragon beneath his feet. The work combines vivid storytelling with deep spiritual meaning.
Created within the Viceroyalty of Peru, the painting reflects the influence of the Cuzco School. This tradition brought together Catholic iconography and local craftsmanship. Rich colors, flat space, and fine ornamentation define the style. In this piece, Saint Michael’s armor glows, his wings extend boldly, and his red cloak flows with energy.
The restoration, led by Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration, is carefully uncovering original pigment and detail. Much of the angel’s armor and wings are now visible again. The dragon, once obscured, is being treated with precision. The original colonial frame is also being cleaned and stabilized.
Saint Michael the Archangel paintings like this served both faith and instruction. In colonial Peru, these images were more than decoration—they were tools for devotion. They helped communicate Catholic ideals in a visual language everyone could understand.
To learn more about this artistic tradition, visit Smarthistory’s article on the Cuzco School. For more Spanish colonial works, explore our Colonial Art Collection.
This rare painting is an outstanding example of spiritual art from the Spanish Americas, now undergoing full museum-quality restoration.