“This vivid painting captures the thrilling moment Saint George slays the dragon, showcasing remarkable surface textures and intricate details that bring the legendary tale to life. It was once the centerpiece of an altarpiece devoted to the beloved saint.”
In this dramatic scene, Saint George, astride a powerful white horse, confronts a fearsome winged dragon. The saint, clad in gleaming armor, thrusts his lance into the beast's mouth, a moment of intense action captured with remarkable detail. The princess, whose sacrifice the dragon demanded, kneels to the right, her hands clasped in prayer, a testament to her imminent rescue. The painting's surface itself is richly textured; raised gesso decoration highlights George's halo and armor, as well as the dragon's scaly body, adding a tangible quality to the visual narrative. This central panel, originally part of a larger altarpiece, would have anchored a chapel dedicated to Saint George, a popular model of Christian knighthood, likely in the Palau de la Generalitat in Barcelona, a region where he is revered as a patron saint. The meticulous rendering of bones littering the foreground and tiny lizards near the dragon's cave entrance invite a closer look, revealing the artist's commitment to storytelling through vivid specificities.
- Artist
- Georges Rochegrosse
- Medium
- Tempera on panel
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 155.6 × 98.1 cm (61 1/4 × 38 5/8 in.)
- Collection
- Painting and Sculpture of Europe
- Culture
- Spain
- Credit line
- Gift of Mrs. Richard E. Danielson and Mrs. Chauncey McCormick
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The intricate, raised gesso details on Saint George's halo and armor.
The dragon's scaly body, also rendered with raised gesso, adding texture.
Bones and small lizards scattered in the foreground near the dragon's cave.
The princess kneeling in prayer, her gaze fixed on the unfolding battle.
1 more detail is waiting.
See all 5 in Art Whisper →Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Saint George and the Dragon — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Georges Rochegrosse
1859–1938 · FranceGeorges Rochegrosse was a French painter known for colossal historical scenes, often depicting brutal subjects, and his opulent Symbolist work like 'The Knight of Flowers.'
Further Works by Rochegrosse
A Marine
1874 · Art Institute of Chicago
Final Study for "Bathers at Asnières"
1883 · Art Institute of Chicago
Flower Girl in Holland
1887 · Art Institute of Chicago
The Annunciation
1887 · Art Institute of Chicago
Early Morning, Tarpon Springs
1892 · Art Institute of Chicago
The Home of the Heron
1893 · Art Institute of Chicago
After a Summer Shower
1894 · Art Institute of Chicago
Love of Winter
1914 · Art Institute of Chicago