Saint Georges Defeat The Dragon / 19th Century / Oil On Canvas

This painting depicts Saint George slaying the dragon, a classic theme in Christian iconography symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Here, the dramatic and heroic aesthetic is part of the Gothic Romanticism of the early 19th century, a period marked by a keen interest in the medieval and fantastical.

61 x 51 without frame
71 x 60 with frame

A Romantic and Gothic style: Dramatic atmosphere: The stormy sky, the tormented landscape and the triumphant posture of Saint George reflect the emotional intensity and theatricality specific to Romanticism. A monstrous and demonic dragon: The hybrid creature, with dark wings and a contorted posture, recalls the fantastical and macabre illustrations of the period, notably those of Gustave Doré. Chivalric idealization: The saint's sparkling armor and his heroic gesture celebrate the chivalric ideal, very popular in 19th-century literature and art. Historical anchoring: This treatment of the myth of Saint George is typical of the first half of the 19th century (1820s to 1850s), at the heart of European Romanticism, where the medieval imagination was reinvented to exalt the marvelous and the sublime. The painting thus mixes Christian tradition and Gothic aesthetics, perfectly illustrating the romantic fascination with the fantastic Middle Ages.

The work has been carefully restored, being in perfect condition to be exhibited. On its original canvas, wooden frame from the Restoration period.