ArtvestigeArtvestige
PaintingsArtistsEras
Artvestige

Artvestige

The most comprehensive free reference for European painting. 40,000+ works across ten eras, every one with expert analysis.

Explore

PaintingsArtistsErasData Sources & CreditsContact

About

Artvestige is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any museum. All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

© 2026 Artvestige. All painting images are public domain / open access.

Archangel Michael by Ercole de' Roberti

Archangel Michael

Ercole de' Roberti·1470

Historical Context

Ercole de' Roberti's treatment of this sacred subject in 1470 exemplifies the fifteenth-century approach to sacred subjects, balancing theological orthodoxy with artistic innovation. Painted during the flourishing of the Early Renaissance, the work draws on centuries of iconographic tradition while expressing Ercole de' Roberti's individual interpretation of the divine narrative. The mid-fifteenth century saw painting achieve new levels of naturalistic conviction, as artists competed to render space, light, and human expression with unprecedented accuracy.

Technical Analysis

The devotional work is executed with skilled technique, reflecting Ercole de' Roberti's engagement with the demands of religious painting. The composition balances narrative clarity with spiritual atmosphere, using careful observation to heighten the sacred drama.

See It In Person

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna

Bologna, Italy

Visit museum website →

Quick Facts

Medium
Tempera on panel
Dimensions
17.3 × 13.5 cm
Era
Early Renaissance
Style
Early Renaissance
Genre
Religious
Location
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, Bologna
View on museum website →

More by Ercole de'Roberti

Virgin and Child by Ercole de'Roberti

Virgin and Child

Ercole de'Roberti·1490–96

Giovanni II Bentivoglio by Ercole de' Roberti

Giovanni II Bentivoglio

Ercole de' Roberti·c. 1474/1477

Ginevra Bentivoglio by Ercole de' Roberti

Ginevra Bentivoglio

Ercole de' Roberti·c. 1474/1477

The Wife of Hasdrubal and Her Children by Ercole de' Roberti

The Wife of Hasdrubal and Her Children

Ercole de' Roberti·c. 1490/1493

More from the Early Renaissance Period

Pietà by Cosimo Tura

Pietà

Cosimo Tura·1475/1500

Virgin and Child by Giovanni Bellini

Virgin and Child

Giovanni Bellini·16th century or later

Christ Crowned with Thorns by Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni d'Antonio)

Christ Crowned with Thorns

Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni d'Antonio)·1450

Saint Peter Martyr Exorcizing a Woman Possessed by a Devil by Antonio Vivarini

Saint Peter Martyr Exorcizing a Woman Possessed by a Devil

Antonio Vivarini·c. 1450