Commission for 6ft oil painting of St. Michael the Archangel,one of the principal angels in Christian tradition, especially honoured and invoked as patron and protector by the Church
Remaining faithful when others rebelled against God, St. Michael is the champion of God’s people, their fighter against Satan.
In western art St. Michael is often represented as an angelic warrior, fully armed with helmet, sword and shield, valiantly defending the Church of God.
My aim in this commission of a painting of St. Michael was to translate this familiar image into a new arrangement of colour and form.
Because of the physical location of the painting in the church, high up on the western wall looking down the nave, I chose to emphasise St. Michael as a soldier-like figure, sword in hand watching over the congregation. He is a figure who stands firm, always ready to give assistance to the people of God.
The figure is bold and simple but vibrant in colour so that it can be easily seen by all who worship or visit the church in the years to come.
