Saint George and the Dragon

Art Historical Context

This engraving of *Saint George and the Dragon* by Balthasar Moncornet captures a timeless Christian legend from the late 16th century. Created between 1551 and 1600, the work depicts the saint’s heroic battle against the dragon, a story that symbolized the triumph of faith over evil and resonated deeply with audiences during the Renaissance and Reformation eras. As a print in the Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art, it reflects the era’s growing interest in accessible religious imagery. Moncornet’s choice of engraving allowed intricate details to be reproduced and shared widely, making devotional art available beyond church walls or wealthy collectors. The medium’s precision suited dramatic scenes like this, where fine lines could convey movement, armor, and tension. Today, the print invites viewers to appreciate both the narrative’s enduring appeal and the technical skill that helped spread such stories across Europe.

About the Artist

Balthasar Moncornet · 1600–1668

Balthasar Moncornet (c. 1600–1668) was a French engraver and print publisher who became one of the most prolific portrait printmakers of seventeenth-century France. Born in Rouen, he established a highly productive workshop in Paris on the Rue Saint-Jacques, the traditional center of the French print trade. Despite being blind in one eye — a remarkable handicap for an engraver — Moncornet produced...