The artwork titled “St. George on Horseback” was created by the renowned artist Albrecht Dürer between the years 1505 and 1508. This piece is an engraving that exemplifies the Northern Renaissance art movement and is classified under the religious painting genre. The location of this artwork is currently a private collection.
The image depicts St. George, the Christian martyr and soldier-saint, mounted on a muscular horse. The saint is dressed in full armor, and his helmet features an elaborate design with a visor that obscures his face. A halo suggests his sainthood, glowing behind his helmet. St. George holds a long, slender lance in his right hand, the point of which is not in view, suggesting a battle beyond the bounds of the scene. The horse, splendidly adorned with ornate tack, stands over a vanquished dragon that lies beneath its front hooves. The detailed diagonal shading technique and intricate textures on the armor and horse’s body attest to the mastery of Dürer’s engraving skills. On the lower part of the image, Dürer’s distinctive monogram and the date of the piece, “1508,” are clearly inscribed. This portrayal of St. George slaying the dragon is a powerful and iconic motif in Christian art.
