PROVENANCE: Julius Weitzner, New York, 1969; BJU, 1969.

José Antolínez, one of the great Spanish artists of the late-baroque period, achieved his fame without the aid of employment in the Spanish court. He received his early training from Francisco Rizi and retained much of his master's energetic style. However, he was known almost as well for his hot temper as he was for his remarkable skills. He died at the age of forty from wounds he received in a duel.

The subject of Michael battling Satan was popular in Counter-Reformation countries such as Spain and Italy because Catholics hoped to conquer Protestants just as Michael overcame Satan. It is likely that Guido Reni's version of Michael and Satan in Rome directly inspired this painting by Antolínez.