Saint George Standing by Albrecht Dürer, print, 1502-1503

Saint George Standing

Albrecht Dürer

Year
1502-1503
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 4 7/16 × 2 13/16 in. (11.3 × 7.2 cm)
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art

About This Artwork

Saint George Standing is a masterful engraving created by Albrecht Dürer between 1502 and 1503. This early 16th-century work exemplifies Dürer’s technical genius within the medium of prints, executed during a period of intense innovation in German graphic arts. The artist employed the precise technique of engraving, utilizing the burin to cut crisp, controlled lines into the metal plate. This allowed Dürer to achieve a level of textural detail and complexity in this work rarely matched by his contemporaries.

The subject matter, Saint George, is depicted here not amidst battle, but as a steadfast figure, standing confidently in full armor. Dürer focuses keenly on the meticulous rendering of the Christian knight’s plate armor and the precise folds of his clothing, emphasizing his heroic and pious character. The saint’s presence is commanding, reflecting his widespread veneration as a martial symbol throughout the late medieval and early Renaissance periods.

Produced during a critical turning point in the German Renaissance, this print highlights Dürer’s unparalleled influence. As the leading exponent of graphic art, Dürer ensured the wide dissemination of his religious and classical themes through these reproducible prints. Today, this significant impression of Saint George Standing resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a prime example of the master’s skill in the early 1500s. Its enduring historical and artistic value means the image is often made available for study through public domain resources.

Cultural & Historical Context

Classification
Print

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