possibly Novgorod, circa 1400 – 1500
A striking and iconic image of Saint George slaying the dragon, this medieval Russian icon likely originates from the Novgorod school of icon painting, dating from the 15th century. Rendered in tempera on wood with a gilded background, the composition captures the dramatic moment as the saint, mounted on a rearing white horse, plunges his spear into the dragon below.
The golden background, a hallmark of high medieval Russian iconography, enhances the otherworldly aura of the scene, while the bold linearity and stylized forms are characteristic of the Novgorodian aesthetic. The landscape is abstracted and minimal, focusing attention on the celestial triumph of good over evil.
Saint George was venerated as the patron saint of Novgorod during the 11th and 12th centuries. In later centuries, he was adopted as the patron saint of Moscow, where he remains a powerful symbol, appearing on the city’s coat of arms to this day.
This icon embodies the martial sanctity of George the Trophy-Bearer (Georgy Pobedonosets) and reflects the deep devotional and political significance of his image in Russian Orthodoxy.
Provenance: ex-Soviet government sale c. 1930s, label with inventory number on the back.
Size 80 x 60 cm (31 1/2 x 23 1/2 in.)
