Two years before his death Raphael had designed the large but by no
means imposing _St. Michael overcoming Satan_ (No. 1504), the execution
of which on panel was certainly due to Giulio Romano. It was a gift
from Lorenzo de’ Medici to François I., the original cartoon being
presented by Raphael to the Duke of Ferrara. This picture, like the
_Holy Family of Francis I._, was originally protected by folding wings,
the inner sides of which were lined with green velvet, while the outer
were gilded and painted with arabesques. The two pictures arrived at
Fontainebleau in July 1518, having been carried on the back of mules
by way of Florence and Lyons. As early as 1530 the _St. Michael_ was
restored by Primaticcio and by many others subsequently, notably in
1752. The picture was transferred to canvas by Picault, who received
for his labours the large sum of 11,500 _livres_, a sum quite out of
proportion to its æsthetic or financial value to-day. It was again
restored in 1776, 1800, and 1850. It is signed in gilt characters on
the edge of the Archangel’s tunic: