Saint George and the Princess of Trebizond 1438

Pisanello painted this fresco of Saint George and the Princess of Trebizond in Italy in the first half of the 15th century. It shows us how chivalric ideals, mixed with courtly spectacle, were used to solidify aristocratic power. The legend of Saint George was popular across Europe at this time. He was the epitome of knightly virtue, famed for his strength and piety in defeating a dragon to save a princess. But look closely at the scene. Justice has already been meted out, as we can see from the bodies hanging on the left. The artist, Pisanello, was famous for his naturalistic details. It's not just about religious devotion, it's about earthly power. Art historians investigate the cultural significance of paintings like this through documents from the period – letters, poetry, chronicles – as well as analyzing the symbolic meanings of the figures. The images remind us that art's meanings are always tied to their social and institutional contexts.