The artwork titled “St George and the Youth of Mytilene,” created circa 1250, is attributed to the artist or collective known as “Orthodox Icons.” Executed in tempera on a panel, this piece belongs to the genre of iconography and is part of the series depicting saints. It falls within the Latin Empire of Constantinople art movement, flourishing between 1204 and 1261. The artwork is currently housed in the British Museum, London, UK.
The artwork presents a vividly detailed depiction of St. George mounted on a white horse. The saint, adorned in classical Byzantine armor with a red mantle, is portrayed holding a youth on his left arm. The background is a rich tapestry of intricate scrollwork with predominately gold and red hues, providing a regal and divine ambiance characteristic of the period’s iconography. The scene captures the essence of heroism and divine intervention, central themes in saintly icon depictions. The panel’s aged, weathered borders add to its historical value, emphasizing its antiquity and the devotional fervor it has inspired throughout centuries.