St. George on Foot

The influential German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer created the engraving St. George on Foot sometime between 1499 and 1510. This work exemplifies Dürer's technical mastery of the print medium during a crucial period of his career, shortly after his return to Nuremberg from Venice. Unlike the more common depictions of the mounted saint, this composition focuses on the heroic figure of St. George poised for battle, demonstrating the artist’s skill in rendering complex detail and texture through line work.

As a master of engraving, Dürer utilized sophisticated cross-hatching and varied line weight to achieve rich tonality and dramatic texture in the print. The saint is often shown in detailed contemporary German armor, grounding the religious subject matter in the period’s artistic culture. This focus on meticulous detail is characteristic of Northern Renaissance prints, showcasing an exhaustive approach to material representation. The relatively compact composition emphasizes St. George’s determination and piety as he confronts the unseen threat of the dragon.

The lasting quality of this German work cemented Dürer's international reputation. The exceptional quality and historical importance of the piece ensured its inclusion in major museum collections. This fine impression of the engraving resides in the extensive collection of prints at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of its age and cultural significance, the underlying image of St. George on Foot is widely available through public domain sources, allowing researchers and enthusiasts global access to Dürer’s foundational work in the field of printmaking.