Artwork
St. George and the Dragon
St. George and the Dragon is a drawing by the Renaissance artist Francesco Salviati. It dates from 1534 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This drawing depicts St.
- Accession no.
- 1992.60
- Credit line
- John L. Severance Fund
About this work
Overview
This drawing depicts St. George and the Dragon, a legendary scene in which the saint rescues a princess from a monster.
Subject & Meaning
The scene is based on a legend in which St. George saves a king's daughter from a dragon, leading to the conversion of the king's subjects to Christianity. The story is rooted in Greek myth and symbolizes the triumph of Christianity over paganism.
Technique & Style
St. George is depicted wearing ancient-style armor, inspired by Roman sculpture, a common reference in Renaissance art to convey virtue and authority. The armor signifies the saint's status as an early Christian hero and emphasizes his Roman heritage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Salviati or Francesco de' Rossi (1510 – 11 November 1563) was an Italian Mannerist painter who lived and worked in Florence, with periods in Bologna and Venice, ending with a long period in Rome, where he died.
