This is called Saint Michael Triumphant over the Devil. It was painted by one BartolomĆ©āÆBermejo in 1468. If you look really closely, you’ll see a really scary devil character at the bottom with a big grinning smile. It was probably the central panel of an altarpiece which was in the church of San Miguel (Saint Michael) in Tous, near Valencia.
The kneeling donor is Antonio Juan, Lord of Tous. He holds a psalter (a book containing the book of psalms from the bible) open at two penitential Psalms (Psalms 51 and 130 – penitent means “seeking forgiveness”). That heavy chain and sword show that he is a knight.
Bermejo’s has used the Netherlandish technique of painting in oil, and you can see it in the modelling of the donor’s head, in Saint Michael‘s crystal shield and in the reflections of the Heavenly City on his breastplate, which you can just see if you look close enough.
Let’s take a closer look at the devil. He’s flat on the ground like a snake, and if you look at his body, something isn’t right! He has a snake’s tail, wings of a bat, arms like bird’s legs, he’s got a second mouth coming out of his stomach and two sets of red eyes. His arms have scales with metal armour, and he has toothed mouths for elbows, and it looks like he’s eating his own body! Yuck!
Let’s see what happened in the battle!
Yo Devil! St Michaelās in the house
Iām gonna take you down, you big girlās blouse
Cos Iām fine. My armour is gold
Got a mighty sword, Iām brave and bold
And youāre nothing, youāre a scaly beast
Gonna chop off the head I like the least
Cos youāre ugly with a crocodile tail
In a beauty contest EPIC FAIL
Iām a saint and I got style
When people see you they run a mile
Iām so cool and youāre just a joke
Look at me in my lovely cloak
I got wings ā yeah I can fly
Yo Devil! Time to say bye bye
Devil: Iām the devil, youāre a stupid saint
So think youāre all that, but you aināt
Iām Beelzebub, you donāt scare me
Could have you for breakfast and for tea
Cos Iām hungry, I want something to eat
Look at my teeth, Iām gonna bite off your feet
And my claws, gonna rip you to shreds
Think youāre drop dead gorgeous ā nah! Youāre just dead
You got no style and thatās for certain
Your cloak looks like your grannyās curtains
Your fancy armour covered in pearls
Who did your hair? It looks like a girls’
You got a shiny shield, cos youāre so vain
Only need it to check your reflection again
Youāre pants ā I think thatās fair
Youāre the patron saint of underwear
Donor: Donāt mind me, Iām in the background
That sword looks sharp, donāt swish it around
Iām Antonio but my mates call me Tone
Iām praying that Devil will leave me alone
Cos I paid for all this and it didnāt come cheap
To prove I got faith (Iām a bit of a creep)
And for status, to show off my wealth
Now I want to go home before I wet myself
Saint Michael: Prepare to die, donāt go crying to mummy
You got lizards for arms and eyes in your tummy
Iāve jewels on my shoes, what dāya think about that?
Cos Iām wiping them clean on you like a doormat
Devil: Yo Mike! Youāre having a laugh
Cos I got you trapped with my tail ’round your calf
You may look pretty, thatās all very well
Iām not your doormat, Iām the Ruler of Hell
How would you paint like BartolomƩ?
Can you see if you can create a hidden reflection in your painting?
In the painting, you can just about see a holy city in the breastplate of Saint Michaels’ armour. See if you can paint a reflection in something you’re drawing – perhaps there’s a reflection of a garden in your vase?
Create your own monster!
Draw something really scary! In the painting, the devils’ body looks very strange with all of its’ mouths and scales. Can you draw something even scarier?
Can you draw a knight in shining armour?
What shapes can you see? And how do you draw reflections? See if you can draw a knight battling your monster and see who wins!
Click on a painting below to explore more!
