Saint George and the Dragon
St. George and the Dragon is a small oil on wood cabinet painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Raphael, painted c. 1505, and now in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The saint wears the blue garter of the English Order of the Garter, reflecting the award of this decoration in 1504 to Raphael's patron Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, by King Henry VII of England. The first word of the order's motto, "HONI" can be made out. The painting was presumably commissioned by the Duke, either to present to the English emissary who brought the regalia to Urbino, Sir Gilbert Talbot, or to Henry himself—recent scholarship suggests the latter. The honour paid to a minor Italian ruler reflected Henry's appreciation of the cultural prestige of Renaissance Italy as much as any diplomatic purpose.
The traditional subject, Saint George and the Dragon, combining chivalry and Christianity, is appropriate for the occasion; like his father, Guidobaldo was a condottiero, or proprietor of a band of mercenary soldiers. In the early stages of his career Raphael painted a number of tiny cabinet paintings, including another St George in the Louvre, and the Vision of a Knight in the National Gallery in London.
c. 1503 – c. 1504 · Wirkungsort
Siena
late 1504
Meets Leonardo and Michelangelo
Having moved to Florence, Raphael met Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Bartolomeo della Porta and closely studied Leonardo's sfumato. His first Florentine commission, portraits of Agnolo Doni and his wife, was painted under the clear impression of the “Mona Lisa”.
1504
Friendship with Baldassare Castiglione
In Urbino Raphael met the philosopher, writer and patron Count Baldassare Castiglione; they formed a firm friendship and correspondence, including the famous letters about the fresco “The Triumph of Galatea”.
October 1504
To Florence, to study
The mother of the next Duke of Urbino gave Raphael a letter of recommendation to the Gonfaloniere of Florence: “The bearer of this will be found to be Raphael, painter of Urbino, who, being greatly gifted in his profession has determined to spend some time in Florence to study.” She called him “a sensible and well-mannered young man”.
1507
Meets Donato Bramante
Raphael met the architect Donato Bramante, by an unproven account his relative. Bramante became his adviser and patron and later recommended him to Pope Julius II as the best candidate for work in the Vatican.
1508
Moves to Rome at the invitation of Julius II
The new pope, Julius II, invited Raphael to Rome, perhaps at the suggestion of his architect Bramante, a distant relative of the artist. Unlike Michelangelo, kept waiting for months after his summons, Raphael was immediately commissioned to fresco what was to become the pope's private library, a far larger commission than any he had had before.
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Öffentlich ausgestellt. Wer dafür bürgt, steht unten.
Ausgestellt · Saal 20 · Westgebäude, Hauptgeschoss
National Gallery of Art · 29. Sept. 2026 — jetzt · Geprüft
Ausgestellt · Saal 20 · Westgebäude, Hauptgeschoss
National Gallery of Art · 29. Sept. 2026 — 29. Sept. 2026 · Geprüft
Ausgestellt · Saal 20 · Westgebäude, Hauptgeschoss
Eremitage · 28. Sept. 2026 — 29. Sept. 2026 · Geprüft
Ausgestellt · Saal 20 · Westgebäude, Hauptgeschoss
National Gallery of Art · 30. Aug. 2026 — 28. Sept. 2026 · Geprüft
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