Saint George and the Dragon
c. 1506
Raphael captures the exact split-second of triumph in this dynamic Renaissance masterpiece. A gleaming knight in full black armor, Saint George, rears his white horse back just as his lance pierces the scaly green dragon below. The horse's wide, terrified eye and the dragon's writhing body add incredible tension to the scene. In the background, a princess watches in prayerful relief, seemingly safe now that the monster is defeated. Painted around 1506, this small but powerful panel showcases Raphael's early mastery of movement and emotion, proving he was already a superstar of the High Renaissance before he even reached his mid-twenties.
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