Saint George Slaying The Dragon, Raphael Sanzio (urbino, 1483 – Rome, 1520) A Follower Of

Saint George Defeats the Dragon
By a follower of Raphael Sanzio (Urbino, 1483 – Rome, 1520), 17th–18th century

Oil on oval canvas (124 x 95 cm./ In frame 148 x 118 cm.)

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The painting evocatively depicts the triumph over the dragon by Saint George, a noble knight of the Christian faith originally from Cappadocia (in present-day Turkey), whose astonishing adventure, rich in symbolic meanings regarding the struggle between Good and Evil, has always been a favorite theme in art: during the Renaissance, it allowed for the depiction of both chivalric and religious ideals and values.

The legend of Saint George, both saint and knight, is rooted in the model of the battle waged by the Archangel Michael, exemplifying the struggle of Good against Evil, as described in the Book of Revelation, from which the image of the dragon is presumably also drawn.

"One day he arrived in the kingdom of Silene, ravaged by the presence of a terrible dragon, whose destructive power could be contained only by human sacrifices. It was the “soldier of Christ” himself who slew the dangerous beast and saved the sovereign’s daughter from the monster’s jaws, and as a reward he asked for neither honors nor money, but that all the people convert to Christianity by receiving baptism."

Our painting is a high-quality replica of one of the most famous works by Raffaello Sanzio, the "St. George and the Dragon" [1]commissioned in 1505 by Guidobaldo da Montefeltro to be sent as a gift to Henry VII of England and now in the National Gallery of Art in Washingtonn (Mellon Collection) (http://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/30027/Sanzio%20Raffaello%2C%20San%20Giorgio%20e....

In the painting, St. George is depicted at the moment of his triumph over the Dragon, the emblem of Evil, as he pierces it with a lance.

He is depicted according to traditional iconography, mounted on his steed and clad in shining armor and a crested helmet, while his iridescent red cloak billows in the wind, enhancing the dynamism of the sculptural figure.

Off to the right stands the princess, composed in prayer as she devoutly watches the hero in action; behind her, we can glimpse a building, surrounded by extensive walls to protect it from the dragon. This detail, not present in Raphael’s original, is an addition by our artist, likely intended as a tribute to the patron’s place of origin or the work’s intended destination.

An analysis of the work’s general stylistic characteristics suggests a date for the painting between the 17th and 18th centuries, associated with an artist influenced by Roman culture.

Good condition.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The work is sold complete with a beautiful gilded wooden frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet.
We handle and arrange the shipping of purchased works, both within Italy and internationally, through professional and insured carriers.
It is also possible to view the painting at our gallery in Riva del Garda; we would be delighted to welcome you to show you our collection of works.

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