Saint George and the Dragon

Executed with fine, sharply cut lines, the engraving employs cross‑hatching to model the armor, dragon scales, and atmospheric depth. Contrasting shadows give the rearing horse and the dragon a three‑dimensional presence, while the detailed rendering of the figures reflects the artist’s proficiency in the medium.

The work is attributed to Israhel van Meckenem, a German goldsmith and printmaker active between 1465 and 1503. Van Meckenem was the most prolific fifteenth‑century engraver, producing over six hundred prints, many of which were copies of earlier masters such as Albrecht Dürer. This piece belongs to his later period, when he focused on religious subjects.

During the late Gothic period, engravings served both devotional and didactic purposes, circulating religious stories to a broad audience. The Saint George motif was popular in Northern Europe, and van Meckenem’s version reflects contemporary tastes for dramatic, narrative prints that could be reproduced and disseminated widely.