During the time Luca Giordano created the painting St. Michael, he was one of the leading Neapolitan painters of the seventeenth century. This oil painting of St. Michael was only one of the many depictions of this story Giordano produced. It is of great importance because of its vast contrast of other portrayals of Saint Michael. The main figure in this image, Saint Michael, an archangel who appears in the Bible multiple times fighting against the devil, is the focal point for the message this painting conveys. In this specific oil painting, the archangel is seen standing over dark figures of the devil. Depicting the accounts of Saint Michael, Giordano presents the grand disparity between good and evil. 

In Michel Foucault’s “Las Meninas,” Foucault mentions that the history behind the painting is irrelevant and blocking to what the image could possibly depict without distracting information. However, in the case of Saint Michael, it is believed that Giordano created this to specifically tell the narrative of the archangel versus the devil. Without this history, the image holds less meaning; an angel of righteousness defeats an angel of villainy. Although this interpretation is “correct” in the sense that it is what the image presents, it fails to recognize the specific implication of the painting. It is important that the focal point is indeed Saint Michael and not any other archangel because of the role he played in protecting the Christian people from the devil. In order to depict the story of Saint Michael, Giordano painted this image to be hung in a church. When the painting is viewed in a non-religious location, it is easy to simplify the figures into mere angels. Since Giordano created the painting in order to be seen in a specific environment, there is a specific meaning behind it- hence why it is important that the angel is indeed Saint Michael. Despite the fact that Saint Michael appeared in the Bible a mere four times, he had specific duties that no other archangel was liable for. His action in this image represents the distinctive role Saint Michael played.

The background is hazy, though this is may be due to the use of oil paint. The blue color behind Saint Michael represents a heaven of some sort- a peaceful place where pure angels prevail. However, the bottom of the painting hosts a different story. There is a line in the middle of the painting separating the presence of the righteous angels from the sinful. The brownish, cloudy hues envelope the five figures of hell. There is an unknown light source coming from within the foggy mass. This suggest that there is a strong entity below, perhaps Satan who has sent his archangels to fight for him. 

In this painting, the light shone upon Saint Michael represents the importance of his role as protector and leader against ungodly like existences. There is a halo of white around his head, which ties a great contrast to the darkness below him. This creates a hierarchy- an uneven playing ground, if you will. The use of light versus dark sets the tone for the whole image. Signifying here is light reflecting off of the pink cape on the left, but the right is cast in shadow. Saint Michael is shown wearing a baby blue leotard of sorts along with a pale pink cape. His wings are white, broad, and detailed. These emphasize his sin-free innocence as well as his power, His appearance is considered feminine by today’s standards. Despite this demeanor, Saint Michael depicts power and strength. To clarify, the femininity of his image should not correspond to his level of strength. However, the stereotypes of this day and age demand otherwise. Clarification is necessary due to the differences in society between when the painting was created and the viewing of the image in today’s time. The muscles in his legs and sculpted upper body contradicts the stereotype. This feminine perception of Saint Michael presents a somber notion of his figure despite the conviction of the dark figures below him.  

Despite the demeanor of Saint Michael, the language of this painting is not one of delight. While the focus is on the gracious archangel, a dark story is told by the men beneath him. The main figure in the shadows is crying out in pain. His face and upper body are cast in shadow. His lower torso, however, is lighter, enhancing the stream of blood gushing from the puncture of the spear. This wound is the signature of defeat; the good dominates the evil. There are several factors in the bottom of this image that suggest hellish and evil beings. The wings on the back of the man who is being wounded are dark and seemly rough which contrasts greatly to Saint Michael’s wings. This figure is perhaps the devil, or a dark archangel who fought against his counterpart. Joining him in his defeat, there is another man with a snake wrapped around his arm, a snarling beast, and a bent leg that seems to have already lost its body to the depth below. The man with the snake is struggling, reaching up toward the light in one last attempt to save himself before being defeated. In scripture, the snake has always been a sole symbol of evil and sin. Since Giordano created this based off of what occurred in the Bible, this meaning stands. In the painting, the snake is joined with another companion- a beast who has its mouth open in a scream. This countenance mirrors the one of the archangel beside it. The dark tones of these images implement a meaning of transgression, yet not even sin, that is an entity of a beast itself, can rein again the pureness of Saint Michael, and essentially God himself. 

Overall, this painting displays the reign of Saint Michael over all evil. There is a solid contrast between the two themes portrayed. Indeed, the oil on this canvas effortlessly reflects the strength yet solitude of Saint Michael while manifesting a glimpse of hell. It seems not even the strongest of the evil can escape the reign of Saint Michael. This oil painting not only represents the actions of this archangel, but also the reign of God that overcomes all sin. Saint Michael defeating the devil archangel in this painting tells the story of how he led the all the angels, and ultimately, the Christian people, to follow Christ.
