Psicostasia dell'Arcangelo Michele

ambito pistoiese

MSA 3641

Unità di misura: cm; Altezza: 272; Larghezza: 138

Affresco staccato su resina di vetro

Originally, the fresco - together with its twin depicting the Supper at Simon's House - decorated the apse of the church of San Michele di Fassolo. They remained covered by a subsequent layer of plaster until their rediscovery during the demolition of the church, located around the current railway station in Piazza Principe. The two frescoes were painted in 1292 and signed by Manfredino d'Alberto da Pistoia, who was active in Pistoia and Genoa between 1274 and 1305 (the year in which he signed the frescoes in the Church of Carmine). Manfredino, who may have worked on Cimabue's construction site in Assisi, introduced the Tuscan innovations of the late 13th century to Genoa. This fresco depicts Psychostasia, the weighing of souls, in which the Archangel Michael appears as judge and warrior. He is seen with his wings spread, stretching out his right arm to hold a pole from which a set of scales hangs. One of the scale pans holds a faithful believer in a supplicating posture. To the left of the scene, the wings of the devil can be glimpsed, perhaps depicted as a dragon, according to the iconography of St. Michael the dragon slayer, victor over Evil.