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St. George Killing the Dragon
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Saint George’s legend was widespread throughout the Middle Ages. Warrior saints were particularly popular among the knightly class. Here Saint George is depicted as the consummate knight clad in gleaming plate armor as he slays the dragon, a symbol of evil. Such saints are frequently represented demonstrating their martial prowess by killing dragons or demons. For audiences familiar with the chivalric entertainments of their time, stories like those of Saint George held special appeal in representing the triumph of good over evil.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineSt. George Killing the Dragon, 1500s. Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528). Woodcut; sheet: 21.1 x 14.3 cm (8 5/16 x 5 5/8 in.); mat size: 48.9 x 36.3 cm (19 1/4 x 14 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland, 1922.248