A winged figure in golden armor dominates the center of Saint Michael Vanquishing Satan, his body twisting as he raises a long spear above his head. His right arm is extended upward, gripping the spear firmly, while his left hand steadies the weapon near its midpoint, poised to strike downward. Large, multicolored wings rise from his back, their feathers rendered in bands of gold, blue, and brown, arching dramatically to fill the upper part of the composition.

A swirling blue-grey cloak billows around his shoulders and arms, adding a sense of movement and drama to the scene. Beneath him, a muscular, horned figure lies sprawled on a rocky outcrop, his limbs twisted and his body partially shadowed. This defeated figure’s skin is rendered in earthy tones, and his face is contorted in a grimace, his mouth open as if in pain or protest.

The victor’s left foot pins the vanquished being’s torso, reinforcing the sense of triumph and control. A dark, rocky terrain fills the lower half of the painting, while a distant landscape of gentle hills and a luminous sky stretches behind the figures. Light falls from the upper left, illuminating the golden armor, the angel’s face, and the upper wings, while casting deep shadows beneath the figures and rocks.

The color palette moves from the warm golds and reds of the armor and wings to the cool blues and greens of the sky and cloak, creating a vivid contrast between the celestial and the infernal. Fine brushwork is visible in the feathers and hair, while broader, softer strokes model the flesh and drapery. The composition is tightly constructed, with the diagonal of the spear and the angel’s body leading the gaze downward to the defeated figure.

Small details, such as the intricate lacing of the sandals and the delicate highlights on the armor, reveal the artist’s careful attention to texture and form. Saint Michael Vanquishing Satan is attributed to Raphael, whose name appears in the catalogue entry for this work.