Confrerie van St. Joris te Vere 1717

Editor: Here we have "Confrerie van St. Joris te Vere," created in 1717 by Willem du Pre. It seems to be some sort of metal relief or engraving depicting St. George and the Dragon. It gives off quite a solemn, almost serious vibe, don't you think? What’s your interpretation of this piece? Curator: Solemn is one word, perhaps 'stoic' would be another, a certain determination in the face of chaos. What you're seeing is likely a badge or plaque made for a civic guard, a sort of militia. St. George was their patron saint – talk about a motivational figure! Consider the historical moment, though: Europe was constantly at war, towns needed defending. Does that context shift the feeling for you at all? Editor: I guess it does a bit! Knowing it was for a civic guard gives the image a more…purposeful feel, less symbolic and more about real-world protection. It still feels incredibly removed from me, being about events of a few hundred years ago, but a bit more immediate nonetheless! The texture of the metal almost feels battle-worn, in its way, or aged like armour. Does the context explain the choice of material? Curator: Absolutely. Metal signifies durability, strength. These guards were pillars of their communities; the badges reflected that. Plus, think about mass production – metal reliefs were more easily duplicated than paintings or sculptures for widespread use within the group. Isn't it funny how materials speak volumes if we simply ask them to? It is interesting to see the two escutcheons or coat of arms sitting each side of St George, do you wonder whether they denote the membership or region, say? Editor: It is incredible to read materials like that; thank you. I had assumed, but would have been reluctant to guess. Learning that materials have their own language in some ways opens another chapter for interpretation of artwork to me. Curator: It is the start of something exciting, remember how the layers can combine to evoke emotional meaning in an object like this one!