Saint George and the Dragon, c. 1480-1490

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Engravingexpand_more

Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1926expand_more  P.10,950

Not on Viewexpand_more

One day a soldier named George was riding through the Libyan countryside, when he came upon a horrible scene. A dragon was about to devour a young princess who had been sacrificed by her community to placate the beast. Dismissing her warnings, he gestured the sign of the cross, stopping the dragon in its tracks. Next, George charged, injuring the dragon with his lance. He then asked the princess for her belt and used it to fashion a leash for the now tamed monster.

George, possibly a Greek Christian soldier in the Roman army around the year 300 CE, was well established as a saint within a century of his execution for refusing to recant his faith. Hundreds of years later, the dragon legend was added to his biography.

Details
Title
Saint George and the Dragon
Artist Life
active c. 1470–1490
Role
Artist
Accession Number
P.10,950
Provenance
Albertina, Vienna (duplicate, Lugt 5g; sold, after 1922). H.V. Jones, Minneapolis (1926, given to Mia)
Catalogue Raisonne
Bartch VI.142.52; Lehrs VI, 116.19; B.VI, p 141; # 48 ; L.V. p 252; # 56
Curator Approved

This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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