Saint George and the Dragon
1512
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1512
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint George and the Dragon is a 1512 ink by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a chaotic battle between Saint George and a huge dragon. The dragon coils around a rocky cliff, its mouth open wide. Saint George, on horseback, raises a spear toward the beast. Around them, people flee in fear, and the scene is packed with trees, crumbling buildings, and twisted figures. The text below names the artist as Johannes Stigelius, but the print was actually made by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a key Renaissance figure. The woodcut’s busy lines and dramatic action fit the style of the era. Look up woodcut to see how artists carved images into wood blocks before printing.
