St George Battles The Dragon 1606 - 1608

Peter Paul Reubens painted St George Battles the Dragon. The oil paint depicts a scene of intense dynamism, where the knight, his horse, and the dragon are caught in a swirling vortex of action. The composition is built around strong diagonals and a clear contrast between light and shadow. Rubens's masterful use of color and brushwork creates a palpable sense of movement. The dragon's dark, scaly body is sharply offset by the luminous flesh of the horse and St. George, highlighting the struggle between good and evil. Rubens uses texture to enhance the drama. The horse's mane seems to ripple in the wind, while the dragon's scales and teeth are rendered with grotesque detail. This attention to form and texture doesn't merely depict a battle, it articulates a complex narrative. The struggle is eternal, continuously reinterpreted through art and culture.