Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (1483 -1520), commonly known as Raphael, painted ‘Saint George and the Dragon’ oil on panel, (11 1/4 inches x 8 7/16 inches) in 1506 when he was only 23 years old. This canvas is unique in the sense that Raphael shows the legend of a youthful male — Saint George, the patron saint of England — who is risking his life to save a princess and her kingdom from a “dragon” who had captured her. However, later on in his extensive career he mostly painted biblical scenes — the most memorable are his many Madonna and Child paintings and a few other works which refer to Greek mythology. The painting ‘Saint George and the Dragon’ is displayed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. — M.I.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, June 28th, 2015

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