Saint George and the Dragon, 1942 by Salvador Dali

Saint George and the Dragon, 1942 by Salvador Dali
Saint George and the Dragon, 1942 by Salvador Dali

Saint George and the Dragon, 1942 is dedicated to the Marquis de Cuevas, who was a patron of Dali's for many years. The Marquis was married to a Rockerfeller millionairess, so had plenty of available funds to back Dali's projects. Saint George and the Dragon, 1942 is painted in oil on ivory. This rather expensive form of canvas could be the reason for the diminutive size of the work, measuring only 3x4 in (7.5x10 cm).

The frame is made from gold encrusted with seed pearls, and the corners are decorated with baguette-cut diamonds. Dali regularly used precious jewels and metals in his work. He also liked to find unusual frames for his paintings, such as the gilt frame of Messenger in a Palladian Landscape. A naked St. Georges is gripping on to the haunches of his horse while he is thrusting his lance into the open mouth of the dragon. The horse is lying on top of the dragon so that only the head of the beast can be seen. Around the horse's neck is the, dragon's tail, its claws digging into the side of the horse. The horse looks fierce, taking on some of the dragon's features as if it grimaces in pain.

Saint George and the Dragon drawing by Salvador Dali
Saint George and the Dragon drawing by Salvador Dali