Title

Saint Michael

sculptor

Siloé, Gil de (Burgos. Active 1480-1500)

Generic classification

Object

Date

Century

Cultural context / style

Dimensions

Material

Technique

Iconography / Theme

Provenance

Current location

Inventory Number in Current Collection

Object history

This sculpture is the work of Gil de Siloé and was executed in the last quarter of the 15th century. The place for which it was conceived is unknown, but its author worked mainly in the current provinces of Valladolid and Burgos (Yarza, 1991), so we assume that it would come from there. It was precisely in Burgos where he made his most significant works such as the altarpiece of the chapel of the Conception of the cathedral of Burgos, as well as the tombs of John II and Isabella of Portugal and Prince Alfonso, in addition to the altarpiece of the church of the Cartuja de Miraflores. The Museum of Fine Arts of Budapest, where the piece is currently located, considers that the sculpture is reminiscent of the figures that Siloé made for the main altar of the Carthusian monastery of Miraflores. In the last years of his life Siloé focused all his attention and much of his artistic activity to complete the works of the Charterhouse, therefore, it would not be strange to think that the sculpture could have been there.

José María de Palacio y Abárzuza, Count of Las Almenas, undertook a series of reforms in the Cartuja de Miraflores at the beginning of the 20th century “without technical advice or any guarantee” in the tombs and other areas of the monastery (Martínez Ruiz, 2006). Rumors soon began to spread about some pieces that had left the Carthusian monastery and were outside of Burgos (Martínez Ruiz, 2006). Although the Count set himself up as a defender of the patrimony, the truth is that during his stay he took advantage of the opportunity to acquire some objects, some of which were later sold in New York. He treasured his collection in Madrid, at 31 Serrano Street, and in Canto del Pico, an estate he owned in Torrelodones (Martínez Ruiz, 2005). At the beginning of the 1920s he decided to sell part of his collection, at which time he became acquainted with Arthur Byne and Mildred Stapley, the main agents of tycoon William Randolph Hearst (Merino de Cáceres and Martínez Ruiz, 2012). In 1927, part of the collection of the Count of Las Almenas was auctioned at the American Art Association (New York), where pieces from the Cartuja de Miraflores were mentioned (Martínez Ruiz, 2006). In the catalog Spanish Art. Collection of the conde de las Almenas, several sculptures with Saint Michael slaying the dragon are numbered, such as the following: “The Saint represented, as usual, trampling down Satan, whose one arm clutches his shield”; ”Saint Michael is represented as a youthful knight in armour and a flowing red cape trimmed with gold. He stands and is about to transfix the prostrate monster which he has succeeded in overturning”. It is possible that the Count of Las Almenas acquired it in Burgos and later auctioned it in New York. At that time the carving could have been bought by a private collector, so that in 2017 it was auctioned again and was acquired this time by the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest.

Description

Saint Michael appears dressed in armor and a long red tunic. Although lost today, in his right hand he holds a spear, while in his left hand he holds a rich shield. At his feet, scrambling and clutching the shield with one paw, is the devil, whom the saint defeats.

Locations

• ca. 1490 - Early XX^th c.

  province

  Possible origin in the province of Burgos, Burgos (Spain)

• Early XX^th c. - First quarter of the XX^th c.

  private collection

  Collection of Conde de las Almenas, José María de Palacio y Abárzuza, Madrid y Finca Canto del Pico, Torrelodones (Spain) *

• ca. 2017 - present

  museum

  Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest (Hungary)