Cleveland Museum of Art

St. George Killing the Dragon

Albrecht Dürer

Date

1500s

Medium

woodcut

Culture

Germany

Department

Prints

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Saint George’s legend was widespread throughout the Middle Ages. Warrior saints were particularly popular among the knightly class. Here Saint George is depicted as the consummate knight clad in gleaming plate armor as he slays the dragon, a symbol of evil. Such saints are frequently represented demonstrating their martial prowess by killing dragons or demons. For audiences familiar with the chivalric entertainments of their time, stories like those of Saint George held special appeal in representing the triumph of good over evil.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.