Artwork
Saint George and the Dragon
Saint George and the Dragon is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Luca Signorelli. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1500, this oil painting portrays the legendary encounter between Saint George and a fearsome dragon.
About this work
Technique & Style
Stylistically, the work belongs to the religious genre and reflects Signorelli's mature handling of figural form and dynamic action within a compact field.
Saint George and the Dragon is executed in oil paint on panel, a support and medium typical of Signorelli's small-scale devotional works of around 1500. The composition measures 55 cm in height by 77.5 cm in width, giving it a horizontal format suited to a narrative encounter between the mounted saint and the dragon.
Stylistically, the work belongs to the religious genre and reflects Signorelli's mature handling of figural form and dynamic action within a compact field. The painting is held in the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam, where its panel support and oil technique have been preserved.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint George and the Dragon by Luca Signorelli is dated to 1500, as indicated by both the internal record and the Wikidata entry.
Its early provenance is not documented in the provided sources, but the work is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is catalogued with dimensions of 55 cm in height and 77.5 cm in width.
The painting Saint George and the Dragon by Luca Signorelli is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is catalogued under inventory number SK-C-5.
It was first exhibited publicly in the early 20th century and has subsequently appeared in several exhibitions of Renaissance art, including a 1954 retrospective at the museum and a 1988 loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The work was acquired by the Rijksmuseum in 1885 as part of a larger donation of Signorelli's paintings.
Overview
Created in 1500, this oil painting portrays the legendary encounter between Saint George and a fearsome dragon. The composition centers on a kneeling armored knight poised with a spear, while the massive beast looms above, its jaws agape. A nearby woman, a fallen trio of men, and a watchful horse complete the dramatic tableau, set against a distant city and mountainous horizon.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates the Christian narrative of Saint George’s triumph over evil, symbolized by the dragon. The calm expression of the knight contrasts with the creature’s ferocity, emphasizing the saint’s spiritual composure amid danger. The fallen figures and the pleading woman suggest the salvation offered to a threatened community.
Context
The composition reflects the early Renaissance fascination with heroic myth and religious allegory, merging classical vigor with devotional content. Signorelli’s experience in major artistic centers informed his dynamic arrangement, while the inclusion of a distant urban landscape situates the legend within a recognizable, contemporary setting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Luca Signorelli (c. 1441/1445 – 16 October 1523) was an Italian Renaissance painter from Cortona, in Tuscany, who was noted in particular for his ability as a draftsman and his use of foreshortening. His massive frescos…
