St. George And The Dragon, French school of the 15th cenetury

Alessio (or Alesso) Baldovinetti (Florence, 1427 – Florence, 1499) circle
St. George and the Dragon

Oil on panel 32 x 42 cm. - Framed 47 x 57 cm.

Provenance: Hampel Munich, March 31, 2017, lot 854 (Alesso Baldovinetti, circle, €10,000–15,000) (LINK)

The fascinating painting we present here, executed in oil on panel, depicts the Triumph of Saint George, a noble knight of the Christian faith, whose astonishing adventure against the dragon—rich in symbolic meaning in the struggle between Good and Evil—has always been a favorite theme in art: during the Renaissance, it served as a vehicle for portraying both chivalric and religious ideals and values.

“One day, he arrived in the kingdom of Silene, which was plagued by a terrible dragon whose destructive power could be contained only by human sacrifices. It was none other than the ‘soldier of Christ’ who slew the dangerous beast and saved the sovereign’s daughter from the monster’s jaws; and as a reward, he asked for neither honors nor money, but that all the people convert to Christianity by receiving baptism.”

In the painting, Saint George—both a saint and a knight—is depicted at the moment of his triumph over the dragon, as he pierces it with his lance. He is depicted according to traditional iconography, mounted on his steed, clad in shining armor and a crested helmet, while his iridescent red cloak billows in the wind, enhancing the dynamism of the sculptural figure.

In the background, standing to one side, is the princess, overcome with terror, praying and imploring for her salvation. An analysis of the stylistic characteristics allows us to attribute the work to a Renaissance painter of Tuscan, specifically Florentine, origin, although the pictorial styles are more archaic and seem to hark back to earlier painting.

In particular, the work bears a traditional attribution to the Florentine Alessio Baldovinetti (Florence, 1427 – Florence, 1499), an Italian painter and draftsman of the early Renaissance, known for his clear and precise style and his innovative use of light, following the models of Paolo Uccello, Giovanni di Francesco, and Andrea del Castagno.

The brilliant and contrasting color palette, the narrative expression that skillfully conveys the fairy-tale atmosphere of the scene, and the particular attention to the landscape are elements that support this attribution to the painter, specifically during the late phase of his long career.

Very good condition; has undergone restoration and repainting.