Rogier van der Weyden, Saint George and the Dragon, 1432-1435, National Gallery of Art, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

Most experts believe that in this picture the dragon is only being wounded, not killed, by Saint George.

Compare this to a much more gruesome depiction of the same tale by a sixteenth-century Italian painter. (Better not look too closely if you're squeamish!) Surrounded by evidence of its evil deeds, the dragon, already near death, is being stomped by George's horse.

 


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