Saint George on Horseback

Saint George on Horseback by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1508, is a pivotal work in the history of German Renaissance prints. Executed as an engraving on laid paper, this small-format masterpiece demonstrates Dürer’s absolute command over the burin, a skill that elevated printmaking from a craft to a fine art. The precision and detail achieved in the engraving technique define the artist's mature style during the period of 1501 to 1550.

The subject depicts the legendary Christian knight Saint George mid-battle, confronting the fearsome dragon that plagues the region. Dürer’s composition focuses on the powerful dynamic between the mounted figure and the coiled beast, which writhes beneath the powerful stride of the horse. The knight, clad in full armor, appears resolute and calm, while the background landscape is rendered with the meticulous naturalism characteristic of Dürer’s northern European style, combining meticulous realism with dramatic allegory. The dramatic use of cross-hatching and dense line work in the engraving medium allows for deep contrasts and subtle tonal variations, maximizing the three-dimensionality of the figures and the textures of their surroundings.

This exceptional impression of the work stands as a central example of German culture defining the early 16th century, showcasing the mastery of printmaking that established Dürer as the preeminent graphic artist of his era. Dürer was instrumental in spreading Northern Renaissance iconography and humanist ideas through the mass distribution of his prints across Europe. Due to the high quality and widespread availability stemming from the artist's original output, this powerful image remains one of the most studied early modern prints. This impression of Saint George on Horseback is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., and is frequently made available for scholarly reference through public domain resources.