Who painted St. George and the Dragon?

St. George and the Dragon was painted by Nicolas Larmessin in 1750.

Where can I see St. George and the Dragon?

St. George and the Dragon is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

St. George and the Dragon

St. George and the Dragon is a print by Nicolas Larmessin. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Nicolas IV Larmessin’s print portrays the legendary encounter between Saint George and a dragon.

About this work

Overview

Nicolas IV Larmessin’s print portrays the legendary encounter between Saint George and a dragon. Executed on paper, the image shows the saint on a rearing horse, sword raised against the beast, while a diminutive figure observes from a rocky ledge. The composition is framed by trees and a distant landscape, creating a narrative tableau that references an earlier design by Raphael.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures the Christian martyr’s triumph over evil, a motif widely employed to symbolize faith’s victory. Saint George, rendered in full armor, embodies chivalric virtue, while the dragon represents chaos and sin. The solitary onlooker on the cliff may suggest a witness to divine intervention, reinforcing the moral of protection through steadfast belief.

Technique & Style

Larmessin employs fine line work and nuanced hatching to model the figures, giving depth to the armor’s plates and the horse’s musculature. The dramatic rearing pose of the horse and the dynamic sword strike are accentuated by careful shading, which imparts a sense of movement and three‑dimensionality uncommon in many contemporary prints.

History & Provenance

The print is a direct copy of a painting attributed to Raphael, indicating Larmessin’s role in disseminating high‑Renaissance compositions through print media. Produced in the early 17th century, it reflects the period’s interest in reproducing masterworks for a broader audience, and it remains a documented example of Larmessin’s precise, dramatic engraving practice.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nicolas Larmessin

A Parisian printmaker active in the early to mid-1700s, Nicolas Larmessin specialized in finely detailed engravings of religious scenes and famous faces.