St George's Day and the Dragon at the National Gallery, London
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Tuesday, November 5, 2024


St George's Day and the Dragon at the National Gallery, London
Paolo Uccello, Saint George and the Dragon, about 1470 © The National Gallery, London.



LONDON.-The National Gallery painting of St George and the Dragon by the Italian painter Paolo Uccello (c.1460) will draw crowds of art lovers eager to celebrate St George’s day on 23rd April. This national treasure, a highlight of guided tours, is one of the most popular paintings in the Gallery and anyone can see it for free. It is also one of the most looked at pictures on the website and the focus of lessons in schools across the country using the teacher’s pack available.

The picture refers to the story of St George from The Golden Legend, a popular collection of Saints’ lives written in the 13th century. It shows 2 episodes of the story. On the right is the first episode where the saint with his lance defeats a plague-bearing dragon that had been terrorising a city. In the sky a storm is gathering. The eye of the storm lines up with Saint George’s lance, suggesting that divine intervention has helped him to victory. In the second episode on the left, the rescued princess brings the dragon to heal, using her blue belt as a leash.

According to the legend, a dragon lived on the outskirts of a city called Silene in Libya. Citizens appeased the dragon by feeding him 2 sheep everyday. When the supply of sheep began to run out, they fed him one sheep and one person, selected by drawing lots. One day the lot fell on the king’s daughter. George, a military tribune, passed where the dragon lived at the time the princess was awaiting her fate. He wounded the dragon, saved the princess, and they went back to the city with the dragon tied around the neck with the princess’s belt. George then killed the dragon in front of the citizens. It is a familiar story where good triumphs over evil.

St George and the Dragon by Uccello is just one of over 2500 paintings in the National Gallery's Permanent Collection open to the public free of charge.










Today's News

April 21, 2008

Sotheby's Impressionist and Modern Art Sale in May 2008 Features Evdard Munch

St George's Day and the Dragon at the National Gallery, London

The Jeu de Paume Presents Artist, Photographer and Writer Valérie Mréjen

Art from Distant Times and Places Offers Inspiration and Insight

Sotheby's London Presents its Annual Indian Art Sale Including 120 Lots of Exceptional Quality

Samuel Rousseau Featured at Aeroplastics Contemporary in Brussels

Henry Bermudez - "Con La Mirada en el Cielo" at Projects Gallery

National Portrait Gallery Announces 2009 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition

As Soon As I Open My Eyes I See A Film

Jersey City Museum Presents Sunday Sampler: SPRAWL Panel

The TechMuseum of Innovation Announces Winners of the Virtual Exhibit Creation Contest




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful