St. Michael

This statue probably comes from the upper Rhine valley, from the artistic circle of Alsace: the method of carving employed for the drapery is related to the sculpture of this region. A drawing in Berlin, regarded as originating from Strasbourg and dated 1485, was probably produced after similar statues and may help identifying the workshop of the Budapest sculpture. The saint once held a lance (with banner) in his raised hand which he probably thrust into the jaw of the dragon. The depiction of St Michael as dragon-slayer was widespread in the Middle Ages.