St. George and the Dragon
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-7377
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection *St. George and the* is a captivating drawing by Italian artist Fortato Duranti (1787–1863), created between 1820 and 1850. This work depicts the timeless legend of St. George the brave knight who slays a ferocious dragon to rescue a princess and save a town from peril—a story rooted in medieval Christian hagiography that has inspired artists for centuries, symbolizing the triumph of good over evilDuranti, a skilled Italian draughtsman active during the early 19th century, renders this iconic subject with the precision typical of prep...