This woodcut comes from a series of 15 scenes
from the Apocalypse. Dürer drew upon late
northern Gothic traditions infused with the reality of spiritual events, biblical interpretation, and
dense composition, as well as careful attention to
naturalistic details of flora and fauna. He interprets
Saint John’s visions by giving them a convincing
physical existence. This scene depicts the war in
heaven, a final battle between good and evil. Saint Michael and his angels defeat the dragon (Satan)
and the other fallen angels, now morphed into
repulsive demons, casting them into hell.