RT Article
T1 Giorgio Vasari’s Saint Michael: A Symbol of Neoplatonic Light
JF Cultural and religious studies
VO 3
IS 3
SP 152
OP 166
A1 Cheney, Liana De Girolami
LA English
YR 2015
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1842478125
AB This essay includes a brief explanation of who is Michael The Archangel; discusses the manifold depictions of Saint Michael in Italian Renaissance art, in particular in Giorgio Vasari’s imagery; and examines the impact of Neoplatonism in the interpretation of The Archangel and Michael’s symbolic role. The Renaissance Neoplatonic philosopher Marsilio Ficino explained the signification of the Platonic celestial ladder as a spiritual vehicle for the human soul to achieve the divine’s love. One step of this ladder is the Angelic Mind. The sparkling light of the Angelic Mind’s realm reveals the splendor and beauty of God’s grace. This is the realm where Michael, a Seraphim and a messenger of God, resides, delivering God’s messages of grace and love to humanity throughout the world. In the vault of the Pope Pius V Chapel at the Vatican, once called Saint Michael’s Chapel, for example, Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) metaphorically visualized these divine messages. He painted al fresco Michael The Archangel in combat against personifications of vices as demons who want to prevent human beings from the obtaining divine grace that will allow their souls to ascend toward divine love.
K1 Giorgio Vasari
K1 Light
K1 Neoplatonism
K1 Saint Michael
K1 and Symbolism
DO 10.17265/2328-2177/2015.03.004