Description of the painting & quot; St. George and the dragon & quot ;, Rubens

Description of the picture:

St. George and the Dragon – Peter Paul Rubens. 1606-1610. Oil on Canvas, 304×256

   The painting “St. George and the Dragon” is one of the most striking works of Rubens, embodying a religious plot. The painting was written when the artist turned 20 nine years old.

   There are two stable traditions of the image of Zhora the Victorious – eastern and western. The eastern canons predict a more spiritual perception of the plot – the guy, usually thin, young, beardless, he pierces the enemy with a narrow spear with no effort. Such an interpretation is only a pleasant reminder of a famous biblical story.

   The presented canvas is a striking example of Western traditions – a plot close to reality, practically tangible heroes, colorful emotions and inimitable dynamics.

   Rubens “revived” St. George. The viewer sees a muscular man on a rearing, mighty stallion, who held his hand high to defeat a dragon snake. As usual, the painter saturated his picture with drama, in which he saw the greatest power capable of influencing the religious feelings of people.

   Almost the entire place of the picture is occupied by a rider in heavy armor and a stallion. The courageous calm face of Zhora, his confident gesture – this is Rubens praise the sight of an impeccable man, protector, hero. With all this, the stallion is in no way inferior to the hero, they both – swiftness, strength, impulse.

   Vivid saturated colors, contrasts of dark and light give the work energy that is inherent in all his paintings with a lively plot. His passionate admirer Eugene Delacroix noted at one fine moment that if we compare the works of Rubens and Veronese or Titian, then the latter will seem “terribly quiet.”"