Saint Michael

Probably by Gaetano Fumo
1740–45
Not on view
Fumo is said to have ceased working silver in 1745 in favor of employment as an engraver at Capodimonte. In 1759, he followed Charles III to Spain, where he continued working at Buen Retiro. Here, the absence of a dragon beneath Saint Michael's feet is unusual. It has been proposed that the base itself may have belonged originally to a candlestick and that its soldered-on flat top, being made of rolled metal, must date to the late eighteenth century. This suggests that the base was adapted during that period as a pedestal for the figure, which had once stood on a dragon.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Saint Michael
  • Artist: Probably by Gaetano Fumo (active 1737–59)
  • Date: 1740–45
  • Culture: Italian, Naples
  • Medium: Silver
  • Dimensions: Overall: 12 1/4 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (31.1 x 14 x 14 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Miniature
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Bequest of Louis Einstein, by exchange, 1976
  • Object Number: 1976.46a, b
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.