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Saint George and the Dragon

ca. 1460–70
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 305
Saint George was a soldier of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (r. 284–305) who became a Christian martyr when he chose torture and death over renouncing his faith. Venerated by both Muslims and Christians during the medieval period, Saint George was renowned for his bravery. One thirteenth-century story recounts how he rescued the entire population of a Libyan town from a dragon by singlehandedly defeating the creature in combat. This sculpture presents Saint George with his right foot pressing into the neck of the vanquished dragon. George became a patron saint for crusaders and numerous chivalric orders, including the Order of the Garter established by the English King, Edward III, in 1348.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Saint George and the Dragon
  • Date: ca. 1460–70
  • Geography: Made in Swabia, Germany
  • Culture: South German
  • Medium: Limewood with paint and gilding
  • Dimensions: Overall: 32 7/16 x 13 3/8 x 8 11/16in. (82.4 x 34 x 22cm)
    without lance: 29 1/2in. (75cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Wood
  • Credit Line: Gift of George Blumenthal, 1941
  • Object Number: 41.100.213
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Saint George and the Dragon, Wood, gesso, polychromy, gold, Austrian, Vienna
Saint George and the Dragon
Austrian, Vienna
ca. 1330
Mourning Virgin, Limewood, South German
Mourning Virgin
South German
1510–20
Virgin and Child, from an Adoration Group, Hans Thoman German, Limewood with polychromy, German
Virgin and Child, from an Adoration Group
Hans Thoman
ca. 1515–20
Saint Stephen, Hans Leinberger German, Limewood with traces of paint, South German
Saint Stephen
Hans Leinberger
ca. 1525–30
Mourning Woman, Walnut, polychromy and gilding, South Netherlandish
Mourning Woman
South Netherlandish
ca. 1480

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