Der Erzengel Michael als Seelenwäger (1523)

Dated 1523, "Der Erzengel Michael als Seelenwäger" is an artwork by Hans Holbein The Younger. The catalogue places it in Religion. The format is portrait. Religion, a short history: Buddhist painting, Hindu devotional imagery, and Islamic calligraphy and ornament each have conventions of their own. Religious painting is among the largest bodies of art ever made, from altarpieces, icons, and illuminated manuscripts to devotional prints. About the period around 1523: The sixteenth century includes the High Renaissance in Italy, the Mannerist generation that followed it, and the Northern Renaissance of artists such as Dürer, Holbein, and Bruegel. The Protestant Reformation changed how religious imagery was commissioned in northern Europe, while Venetian painters made rich colour and brushwork a central concern.

Buying "Der Erzengel Michael als Seelenwäger" means getting a digital file, not a physical print: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI, delivered by email once payment is confirmed. A 300 DPI file is intended for printing at home or at a local print shop, where you can choose a matte, satin, or fine-art paper to suit the room. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. A simple frame with a mat often helps an image settle comfortably into a room. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

German, 1497–1543

If you like the visual language of Hans Holbein The Younger, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.