Artwork
The fight: St George kills the dragon
The fight: St George kills the dragon is an oil painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
About this work
The painting is titled The fight: St George kills the dragon. It was created by Edward Burne-Jones in 1866. The artist used oil paint for this work, which is now held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
The story of Saint George and the dragon is a well-known legend. This painting depicts a scene from that story. You can learn more about the artist's style by looking up Edward Burne-Jones.
Overview
Edward Burne‑Jones painted The Fight: St George Kills the Dragon in 1866 using oil on canvas. The work portrays the legendary hero Saint George confronting a dragon, a theme drawn from Christian hagiography. It is part of the artist’s early output and is currently owned by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the decisive moment when Saint George, mounted on a horse, thrusts his lance into the dragon’s throat. The scene reflects the medieval legend in which the saint triumphs over evil, symbolising the victory of faith and virtue over chaos and sin.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting shows Burne‑Jones’s meticulous handling of line and colour, hallmarks of the Pre‑Raphaelite aesthetic. The figures are rendered with a smooth, almost sculptural surface, while the palette of muted earth tones and luminous highlights evokes the medieval manuscript tradition that influenced the Brotherhood.
History & Provenance
Created during Burne‑Jones’s association with the Pre‑Raphaelite Brotherhood, the work predates his later collaboration with William Morris on decorative projects. After changing hands in private collections, it entered the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s 19th‑century European holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet (; 28 August 1833 – 17 June 1898) was an English painter and designer associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's style and subject matter.
