St George and the Dragon 1503 - 1557

Lucantonio degli Uberti made this print of St George and the Dragon around the mid-16th century, using the intaglio process of engraving. This meant using a tool called a burin to cut lines directly into a copper plate, a skilled and laborious process. Look closely, and you can see the incredible detail achieved in this way. The weight of the lines creates volume and shadow. The artist is emulating the visual language of painting through a painstaking, mechanical process. Engraving like this was not only about artistry; it was about reproduction. Prints like these circulated widely, democratizing imagery and making it available to a broader audience. The very act of making multiple copies speaks to a burgeoning market for art, driven by commercial forces. So, when we look at this print, we're not just seeing a religious scene. We're seeing the intersection of craft, commerce, and the rise of a new visual culture.