Great Christian Painting From Ethiopia – Saint George And The Dragon – Circa 1940

Large Christian Painting from Ethiopia – Saint George andthe Dragon – Circa 1940

Exceptional, large painting on heavy canvas depicting Christian folk artfrom Ethiopia (Length 110 x Width 100 cm), dating from the 1940s. Thismonumental work masterfully depicts the iconic battle of Saint Georgeslaying the dragon to save Princess Biruktawit. It features the graphic elementsand expressive faces characteristic of the Gondar style, withwarm, vibrant pigments that have remained remarkably fresh. Severaloriginal inscriptions in Ge’ez script provide captions for the scene and identify thebiblical figures. With its generous dimensions and excellent state of preservation,this piece of sacred art is a highly decorative item, ideal for acabinet of curiosities or a collection of Orthodox African art.

This Ethiopian icon on antique African canvasfrom Africa is a remarkable example of Ethiopian Orthodoxart and the Gondar style. It perfectly illustrates thereligious folk art of this region through the mythical scene of SaintGeorge and the dragon. Due to its rarity and visual impact, thisCoptic painting of Ethiopian sacred art will stand out as a centerpiece ofAfrican Christian art within a cabinet of curiosities. 

Translation of the inscriptions in Ge'ez (ancient Ethiopian)
On the left, above the horse: “ቅዱስ ጊዮርጊስ ሊቀ ሰማዕታት”translates to “SaintGeorge, Leader of the Martyrs.”
On the right, near the figure in the tree: “ብሩክታዊት” is the princess’s name, which translates to “Biruktawit” (the Blessed One). Atthe bottom, in the center (next to the young Black man): “ሳባቲያን”or “ሳባታይ ” (Sebastian) refers to his faithful servant.

This work is a Coptic Christian painting from Ethiopia.It depicts the biblical and legendary scene of Saint George slayingthe dragon to save Princess Biruktawit. The figure perched inthe tree is the princess, who witnesses the liberation of her land, whilethe servant below holds the saint’s equipment. The painting adheres to the aesthetic conventions of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian artEthiopian Orthodox Christian art in the Gondar style (18th to 20th centuries),characterized by large, expressive eyes, three-quarter profiles, andflat areas of bright color outlined with sharp black contours.