Saint George c. 1506

Benedetto Montagna created this engraving of Saint George in Italy in the late 15th or early 16th century. The subject, a legendary Christian martyr, was especially popular in the Veneto at this time. The image, though Christian in theme, draws heavily on the visual vocabulary of ancient Greece and Rome. We can see this in the classical architecture that frames the scene, the idealized physique of the Saint, and the faces on his armor. The choice of Saint George as a subject may reflect local religious sentiments but, as an engraving, its real cultural work happened as it was bought and sold in the art market. Prints like this one democratized image production by making art available to a wider audience. Historical research, like that into print markets, helps us understand the social conditions that shaped the meaning and production of art at this time.