St George as the Emperor's Patron Saint, from "The Habsburg Saints" (Images de Saints et de Saints Issus de la Famille de L'Emperor Maximilian I) 1511 - 1521

Hans Springinklee made this woodcut, "St George as the Emperor's Patron Saint," as part of a series called "The Habsburg Saints." Made in Germany, around 1515, this print exemplifies the complex relationship between religious devotion and dynastic power. We see St. George, the quintessential knightly saint, standing guard over a kneeling Emperor Maximilian I, who is depicted as a humble supplicant building a church. The image is rich with the visual codes of the Holy Roman Empire, referencing the Habsburg's claim to divine right and their role as protectors of Christendom. The figure of St. George, with his armor and dragon-slaying spear, becomes a symbol of imperial might, while Maximilian's pious act reinforces the legitimacy of his reign. To truly understand this artwork, historians delve into the archives, examining court records, religious texts, and even the personal correspondence of the Habsburgs, to reveal the intricate web of political, religious, and artistic forces that shaped its creation.