Artwork
St George and the dragon
St George and the dragon is a drawing by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This pen-and-ink drawing, dated to around 1750, depicts the legendary encounter between Saint George and a dragon.
About this work
Overview
This pen-and-ink drawing, dated to around 1750, depicts the legendary encounter between Saint George and a dragon. Executed by an anonymous hand, the composition shows a mounted rider thrusting a spear at a coiled dragon, with the horse rearing and the rider’s cloak billowing. The image is rendered in black ink on paper, accented by occasional red markings.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the classic Christian motif of Saint George’s triumph over evil, symbolized by the dragon. The dynamic pose of the horse and rider emphasizes heroic action, while the dragon’s twisted form conveys menace. The brief Greek inscription at the top suggests a possible instructional or devotional context.
Technique & Style
The artist employed rapid, gestural lines to convey movement, using cross‑hatching to build tonal depth in the horse’s mane and the dragon’s scales. Perforations along several contours indicate the sheet was intended for tracing, a common practice in workshop training. Red ink marks on the right side appear to be corrective or annotative notes.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑18th century, the drawing’s anonymous origin and utilitarian features point to its use as a study or pattern for larger works. Its survival on paper, with intact perforations, suggests it was preserved within a teaching collection rather than displayed publicly.
Context
During the 1700s, the Saint George legend remained a popular subject for both devotional art and decorative design. Artists often produced preparatory sketches like this one to plan compositions for prints, tapestries, or metalwork, reflecting the period’s emphasis on reproducible imagery.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
