Take One Picture

About

Take One Picture is the National Gallery’s flagship project for primary schools. The works in this display demonstrate the innovative ways in which schools have responded to Saint Michael Triumphant over the Devil by Bartolomé Bermejo.

This year's display features a wide range of responses to Bermejo's work in a range of media. From drawing to collage and metalwork, the diverse range of works on show reflects the richness of creative responses to the painting. Shape and size, light and dark, good versus evil were just some of the themes explored by the children.

About the painting

Saint Michael Triumphant over the Devil (1468), which is on display in Room 63, depicts Saint Michael wielding his sword and defeating a dramatically painted devil with glowing red eyes. Saint Michael was the archangel who led God’s army against the rebel angels led by Lucifer and cast them out of heaven. Taken from the Book of Revelation, this episode caught the medieval imagination and became a popular subject for artists. In paintings Saint Michael is often shown in armour and defeating the devil in the form of a dragon. In Bermejo’s interpretation, the reflection of the holy city of Jerusalem is visible on Saint Michael’s golden breastplate.

About Take One Picture

Launched in 1995, Take One Picture is the National Gallery’s countrywide scheme for primary schools. Each year the Gallery focuses on one painting from the collection to inspire cross-curricular work in primary classrooms. Each year a display of work produced by schools based on the painting is shown at the National Gallery, and a selection is published on the Take One Picture website.

For further details on the project, visit www.takeonepicture.org.uk