The triptych of Badia a Rofeno by Ambrogio Lorenzetti

The panel by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, created around 1337, depicts Saint Michael killing the dragon, a symbol of evil. In the center, the archangel Michael is engaged in a vibrant and dynamic battle, while on the sides, Saint Bartholomew and Saint Benedict appear. Above, the Madonna and Child are shown with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Ludovico of Toulouse. During the 2011 restoration, a starry sky hidden in the dragon’s spiral was uncovered, referencing a passage from the Apocalypse. The artwork was housed at Badia a Rofeno near Asciano, but it may have originally been created for the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore or for the nearby church of San Michele in Chiusure.