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Media

The Archangel St Michael Takes Fight in the Royal Collections Gallery

Patrimonio Nacional has presented, within the framework of the Women's Week, the restoration of the masterpiece by Luisa Roldán or La Roldana, a key figure of the Baroque period and the first woman sculptor at the Spanish Court. This large sculpture is entitled “The Archangel Michael Vanquishing the Devil” (1692) and it has already been installed onsite where it will be on display from this summer onwards, when the Royal Collections Gallery opens its doors within the Historical Complex of the Royal Palace of Madrid.

After its restoration at the workshops of the Royal Palace of Madrid, Patrimonio Nacional has now placed it for viewing in Floor A of the Gallery. It is 2.64 metres high and weighs 157.5 kg. The transfer required the combined efforts of over 20 persons, in a precise operation involving a protective cage and a telescopic crane to lower the artwork from the workshops on the fourth floor of the Palace. “It’s been one of our most exciting transfers, witnessing the archangel make his final flight to the Gallery,” said Leticia Ruiz, Director of the Royal Collections.

The restoration carried out by Ana Loureiro at Patrimonio Nacional has not only restored the original appearance of the carving, but also revealed some of the artist's own hallmarks, which make the work a privileged testament to her career.

In this long restoration process, Loureiro has repaired the cracks and removed the repainted layer, especially on the face and hands. The last steps involved the chromatic reintegration and final protection of the piece. X-rays have revealed that the devil's horns were not original, thus they have been replaced with new pieces designed according to old photographs, in order to recover its 1692 appearance.