The artwork titled “St. George and the Dragon” was created by Salvador Dali in 1962 and can be characterized as a fusion of Expressionism and Surrealism. This religious painting delves into the thematic depiction of the renowned legend of Saint George slaying the dragon.
The artwork portrays the iconic scene with Salvador Dali’s distinctive style, integrating vivid color and imaginative details that deviate from traditional representations. At the forefront, there’s a depiction of St. George mounted on a white horse, brandishing a lance as if in the midst of the climactic moment of his battle against the dragon, which, intriguingly, is not visible in the scene. Instead, the focus is on the saint—garbed in red and white— and his horse, drawn with gestural, fluid lines that convey motion and energy.
The background consists of a tranquil landscape with rolling hills and a cluster of buildings that suggest a quiet village, which St. George is presumably protecting. The sky is a dramatic canvas itself, with hues of blue and cream streaking across it, possibly indicating the divine nature of St. George’s quest. Dali’s signature can be seen at the bottom right, an acknowledgment of his authorship and a common feature in his works.
The overall composition, with its surreal quality and minimalistic approach to the figure of the dragon, invites viewers to interpret the scene imaginatively, focusing less on the literal narrative and more on the symbolic resonance of the legend as transformed through Dali’s unique vision.
