Artwork
Skt. Jørgen befrier prinsessen fra dragen. Allegori
Skt. Jørgen befrier prinsessen fra dragen. Allegori is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Frans Wouters. It dates from 1627 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1627, the painting Skt.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the heroic figure of Saint George mounted on a horse, confronting the serpentine dragon while a princess observes from a distance.
The painting depicts Saint George in the act of liberating a princess from a dragon, a scene rendered as an allegory. The composition centers on the heroic figure of Saint George mounted on a horse, confronting the serpentine dragon while a princess observes from a distance. Symbolically, the work embodies virtues of chivalry, faith, and the triumph of good over evil, reflecting Counter-Reformation ideals of divine protection and moral order. Its dramatic chiaroscuro and dynamic movement underscore the narrative tension between peril and rescue.
The depiction draws on traditional hagiographic iconography, where Saint George is identified by his armor, lance, and the subdued dragon at his feet, alongside the rescued princess who signifies the vulnerable faithful. The allegorical framework invites contemplation of spiritual deliverance, aligning with Baroque tendencies to convey moral lessons through vivid visual storytelling.
History & Provenance
The painting Skt. Jørgen befrier prinsessen fra dragen. Allegori was created in 1627 by the artist Frans Wouters. Classified as an allegorical work, the piece depicts Saint George, a dragon, and a horse. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
The physical dimensions of the canvas are recorded as 485.0 cm in height and 855.0 cm in width. No further details regarding specific commissions, earlier ownership chains, or the circumstances of its creation prior to its current museum location are provided in the available records.
The allegorical painting Skt. Jørgen befrier prinsessen fra dragen by Frans Wouters is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. The work, dated to 1627, is part of the museum's permanent holdings.
While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records, the artwork is documented as being located at this institution. No exhibition history is detailed in the provided sources.
Legacy
The painting's legacy is anchored in its prominent display at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it remains part of the museum's collection. As a 17th‑century allegory, it continues to be referenced in studies of Danish Baroque art and the evolution of national mythic imagery.
Overview
Created in 1627, the painting Skt. Jørgen befrier prinsessen fra dragen. Allegori portrays the legendary encounter of Saint George and a dragon.
Executed in the Flemish Baroque idiom, the work presents a nocturnal forest setting where the mounted knight confronts the beast that coils around a captive princess. The composition balances dramatic tension with a crowded foreground of onlookers, emphasizing the rescue narrative.
Technique & Style
Frans Wouters employs a compact, cabinet‑size format while retaining the dynamic vigor associated with Peter Rubens. Rich, deep chiaroscuro models the figures against a shadowy woodland, and meticulous detailing of armor and drapery showcases the painter’s skill in rendering texture. The composition’s diagonal thrust and swirling movement reflect Baroque conventions of drama and immediacy.
Context
The work belongs to a tradition of Saint George iconography that flourished across Europe during the Counter‑Reformation, when heroic saints were invoked to inspire piety. Wouters adapts the grandiose Rubensian language to a smaller scale, making the narrative accessible for private devotional or decorative settings typical of aristocratic cabinets.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frans Wouters (1612–1659) was a Flemish Baroque painter who translated the monumental Baroque style of Peter Paul Rubens into the small context of cabinet paintings.
- St George Liberating the Princess from the Dragon. Allegory
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