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Charlotte Mason Picture Study Aid Peter Paul Rubens

St. George Battles the Dragon

1606 - 1608
oil on canvas
309 x 257 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid
Based on the legend of “St. George and the Dragon” from the Golden Legend (see below)

KEY TOPICS:

• St. George can be seen in the top left raising his sword to kill the dragon. Behind him is the
princess holding a lamb (which is customarily used to symbolize innocence).

• In the dragon’s mouth is a lance (in the shape of a cross) that St. George had thrown at him

earlier in the battle.
3

St. George and the Dragon
from The Book of Legends by Horace E. Scudder

IN the country of Libya in Asia Minor there was a town called Silene, and near the town was a

pond, and this pond was the roving place of a monster dragon. Many times had great armies been
sent to slay him, but never had they been able to overcome him. Instead, he had driven them back to

the walls of the city.

3 (Museo del Prado)

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