PAINTING

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Description: PAINTING HAS DARK FINISHED FRAME WITH INVERSED BEVELED EDGE. AROUND INSIDE OF FRAME IS GOLD COLORED EDGING. CANVAS HAS OIL PAINTING OF ST. MICHAEL BATTLING SATAN. ST. MICHAEL IS WEARING A BLUE TUNIC AND RED CLOAK WITH WINGS BEHIND. SWORD IN HIS RIGHT HAND IS READY TO STRIKE. IN LEFT ARE THE CHAINS WHICH HOLD SATAN. SATAN IS BEARDED FIGURE BENEATH MICHAEL'S LEFT FOOT AND HAS SERPENTINE BODY. BRASS PLAQUE 15.2 X 2.5CM IN SIZE IS RIVETED TO BOTTOM OF FRAME AND HAS "ST. MICHAEL, ARCHANGEL" ENGRAVED ON IT. BACK OF PAINTING IS UNFINISHED PLYWOOD. ON BACK AT MIDDLE LEFT IS "ST. MICHAEl TAKEN FROM FRONT ENTRANCE MAY 14/85" HAND PRINTED IN PENCIL. CANVAS IS WARPED AND BUBBLED SLIGHTLY.

History: SISTER AGNES BEATON OF THE SISTERS OF ST. MARTHA RELATES THAT THE PAINTING'S HISTORY (UNCONFIRMED) WAS PASSED ON TO HER BY DR. JOHN MORGAN M.D. OF LETHBRIDGE. THE PAINTING IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT WEST BY FATHER LACOMBE FROM A MONESTARY IN QUEBEC WHERE IT HAD BEEN FOR PERHAPS MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS. FATHER LACOMBE BROUGHT IT TO HIS MISSION IN NORTHERN ALBERTA AND WHEN HE DIED THE PAINTING WAS GIVEN TO THE OBLATE PARISH OF ST. PATRICK'S IN LETHBRIDGE. THE PAINTING WAS THEN GIVEN TO THE SISTERS OF ST. MARTHA FOR ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL. IT HUNG IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE HOSPITAL, MOST RECENTLY IN THE ENTRANCE WAY ON THE SOUTH SIDE. IT WAS TAKEN DOWN IN 1985 AND PUT INTO STORAGE. IT SURFACED AGAIN IN 1992 WHEN SISTER AGNES HUNG IT FOR THE FEAST OF ST. MICHAEL AND IT STAYED UP UNTIL THE HOSPITAL CLOSED IN 1995. THE PAINTING WAS REMOVED BY MUSEUM STAFF IN 1996 PRIOR TO DESTRUCTION OF THE HOSPITAL. ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE PAINTING IS NOT VERIFIED. FOR MORE HISTORY OF ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL SEE P19960116001-GA.