George the Great Martyr

Description

The legend of the dragon slayer

Selling and buying original old icons in Munich and Düsseldorf

St. George is one of the most popular saints in the Christian world and is venerated both in the West and in the Orthodox world. He is considered the patron saint of the poor, warriors, armourers, shepherds and flocks. It also symbolizes the protection of the house and farm. According to tradition, he suffered martyrdom in 303 during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

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According to legend, St. George came from Cappadocia and served as an officer in a Roman legion. The most famous story about him describes how he liberated a Libyan city from a dragon, a so-called lindworm. This dragon was worshipped as a deity by the inhabitants of the land, and to appease him, they regularly sacrificed children to him. When it was finally the king’s daughter’s turn to be sacrificed, St. George appeared on a white horse. He plunged his lance into the dragon’s throat, saving the princess and the city.

About the icon: St. George the Dragon Slayer

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The icon, which shows St. George slaying a dragon, comes from the Neumoscow School of Painting, which was founded by Peter the Great in 1730. This school attempted to merge Western influences with traditional Russian icon painting. The horse on which George is sitting is depicted very naturalistically, while the entire composition of the icon also shows clear Western influences. The clothing of the figures as well as the architecture in the background and the color scheme also speak for this.

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Another characteristic feature of icons from this school from the 18th century is the expansion of the pictorial themes in the upper part of the picture. The background of the present icon is very detailed and imaginatively executed; Christ appears blessing in a round aureole on a cloud bank.

In the upper part of the icon is an inscription in Church Slavonic with the inscription: “Image of St. George the Great Martyr”.

This high-quality icon from the second half of the 18th century is a valuable collector’s item,

It combines the symbiosis of Eastern iconography and Western painting tradition.