Paolo Uccello’s Saint George and the Dragon is an oil painting on canvas from around 1470, measuring 55.6cm x 74.2cm, which is now on display in the National Gallery, London. The painting represents Christian martyrdom and contains medieval-style dragons which were common creatures in Italian literature of the time. In this artwork, Uccello displays his technical expertise, possessing knowledge of anatomy that was extremely rare at the time.
The Italian cultural heritage has had an immense influence on art and is represented in many famous works, such as those by Cy Twombly. These paintings demonstrate certain influences from the Italian Renaissance, with a revival of classical antiquity that is particular to his style. Specifically, his 1961 painting The Italians serves as a homage to the great art that has come out of Italy over centuries and is a fine example of how this classical style continues throughout contemporary artworks.
