This week, Ms Carr-Gomm discusses Paolo Uccello’s ‘St George and the Dragon’.
“How lovely to know that everyday we are closer to getting back to school however far away that might be.
Heres a rather extraordinary painting for St Georges Day.
Paolo Uccello, St George and the Dragon, c1475, 55.6 x 74.2 cm, London National Gallery
Uccello, in a very illustrative fashion, shows us how St. George rescued the Princess Sabra from a plague-bearing dragon. The legend, first recorded in the 14th century, tells us that the dragon demanded food from a nearby town and, when the supply of sheep ran out, it fed on young boys and girls. Lots were drawn for the next victim and, luckily, when the Princesss go turned up, St. George appeared and tamed the dragon.
Things on the left of the painting are spiky: the pointed wings of the dragon are echoed in the moulded cave and the princess – holding the monster which now followed her about like a dog on a leash – has the spikiest of profiles. On the right there are swirls and curves; a very young St George on his white charger plunges his lance into the dragons eye. Behind him, as if directing the triumphant blow, is a vortex of clouds and, with the crescent moon, there is a suggestion that divine powers are at hand.
Of course this is not only a story of a brave knight rescuing a helpless maiden but is also an illustration of good conquering evil. St George was fashionable in Italy, particularly in Venice from where the crusades set forth. One of Sixtus IVs wishes, on being elected Pope in 1471, was to lead a crusade against the Muslim Turk to which this painting could be related.
There are idiosyncrasies: the dragon seems to have a gardener who trims patches of grass to form the lines of perspective that lead the eye to the distant hills, and the dragon, with targets on its wings, could come from the album cover of a 70s’ heavy metal rock band. I wonder if its not a 15th century painting after all?
According to legend, St Georges deeds were done in the name of Christ and the triumph of good over evil is always something to celebrate. Georges parents were apparently Greek and he was born in Cappadocia in Turkey; the Princess he rescued was Syrian. King Edward III admired him for his bravery and made him the patron saint of England in 1350. Another reason to salute this saint is the international acclaim he achieved for his courage in the face of adversity.”
