Saint George and the Dragon 1434 - 1435

Bernat Martorell painted Saint George and the Dragon in the 15th century, a period marked by the rise of powerful merchantile elites in the Mediterranean. In this painting, Saint George is depicted slaying a dragon to save a princess, a narrative deeply embedded in the cultural and religious context of the time. Here we see how George, a Christian knight, battles the monstrous dragon, representing chaos and paganism, to rescue the innocent princess. The painting reinforces the era’s rigid societal hierarchy, showing the knight as the active, masculine protector and the princess as the passive, feminine figure in need of salvation. Notice the bones scattered on the ground, a stark reminder of the dragon's previous victims. Saint George appears as the triumphant hero, his white garments and horse symbolizing purity and divine grace. The artist, Martorell, uses this heroic narrative to reinforce the values of chivalry and piety, offering a glimpse into the complex interplay of power, gender, and religious fervor that shaped the medieval world.