Albrecht Dürer

Although formally most closely related to the Standard Bearer (lot 43), this engraving is thematically as well as technically a companion piece to Saint George on Horseback (see previous lot). Both representations of saint George are unusual in that they do not show the saintly soldier in battle but in triumph, a variant that first seems to have appeared at the time Dürer created these prints.

Saint George is shown carrying the standard of the Order of Saint George. Emperor Maximilian strongly supported this order of knights in preparation of a crusade against the Ottoman Empire. Saint George was also Maximilian's patron saint.