Russian colour taken in the battle of Narva on Nov. 20, 1700. The motif represents the Archangel Michael flanked by two medallions with Jesus and Mary on each side.
***$5-and-up patrons can download this as a wallpaper for their desktop or phone over at patreon.com/posts/66882641***
A young girl is called by a noble voice into a life of hardship. There, she disguises her femininity and faces bandits, strange voices, unworthy kings, enemy armies, inquisitors, imprisonment, despair, and betrayal. Yet her journey is guided by something beyond this world, and through the whirling mists of uncertainty, she discovers her purpose, learns to trust in those dearest to her, and becomes a beacon of hope to her people.
___
JOKE-OGRAPHY:
This month’s wallpaper is based on the original “Mistborn” trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, which begins as a heist thriller set in a dark kingdom of magic and intrigue. In this wallpaper, I’ve replaced the main character, Vin, with St. Joan of Arc, because both are girls who dress in boys’ clothes, both are single-minded warriors, and both try to change their home for the better by having a very physical say in its leadership. I’ve replaced the story’s mentor and charming crew-leader, Kelsier, with St. Michael the Archangel, because both were a force of support and guidance to their respective charges, and both managed to turn seemingly lowly peasant girls onto the path of heroes.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
There’s more I could share to explain the image, of course, but doing so just might spoil parts of the original “Mistborn” trilogy, which I wouldn’t want to do when it’s so worth reading. I only just finished it this month, but it’s easily one of my favorite series of all time. It’s not for everyone, but it’s got oodles of dark fantasy, a fascinating magic system, engaging mysteries with amazing twists and pay-offs, and poignant points about leadership, trust, and faith. If any or all of that sounds swell to you, give it a read (or a listen if you like audiobooks; Michael Kramer’s narration is wonderful), or if you’ve already read it, let me know what you thought (without any spoilers, just in case)!
Raphael. St. Michael. 1503-1505. Oil on panel. 29.5 x 25.5 cm. Louvre Museum, Paris.
As with other previous postings, I chose this because it illustrates Biblical lore well. The great use of colors to separate St. Michael and the demon he is slaying really stands out to me. The skill is of an incredibly high level. I remember seeing this in the Louvre as well as there is a statue recreation in Munich (and many other places, for that matter) of this work. It has become synonymous with good triumphing over evil. It always interests me when an artist renders lore in such a realistic manner.
