Artwork
The Story of Saint George
The Story of Saint George is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Michiel Coxie. It dates from 1549 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
The Story of Saint George, painted circa 1549 by Michiel Coxie the Elder, is a multi-panel oil painting narrating the legend of Saint George. A prominent Flemish artist of the northern Renaissance, Coxie's work reflects the era's detailed realism and religious themes.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts four sequential scenes from the Saint George legend. Key elements include a armored figure (likely Saint George), a dragon attacking men, and a kneeling woman in red (possibly a princess or saint). These scenes convey the narrative's themes of bravery, peril, and devotion.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint on panel, the work showcases Coxie's mastery of northern Renaissance techniques. Earth tones and vivid reds dominate the palette, set against detailed backdrops of natural and architectural elements, characteristic of the region's artistic traditions.
History & Provenance
Created for an unknown original commission, the painting is now part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp's collection. Coxie's court appointments to Emperor Charles V and King Philip II of Spain underscore the work's potential imperial or royal connections.
Context
As a northern Renaissance piece, it aligns with the period's emphasis on realism and religious subjects. Coxie's diverse artistic output (including stained glass, tapestries, and prints) situates the painting within a broader practice of versatile Renaissance craftsmanship.
Legacy
Known as “the Flemish Raphael” for his skill, Coxie's influence reflects the broader impact of northern Renaissance art on subsequent European traditions. The Story of Saint George remains a significant example of his oeuvre and the period's narrative painting style.
Artist & collection
Artist
Michiel Coxie the Elder, Michiel Coxcie the Elder or Michiel van Coxcie, Latinised name Coxius (1499 – 3 March 1592), was a Flemish painter of altarpieces and portraits, a draughtsman and a designer of stained-glass windows, tapestries and…
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The Story of Saint George