Gardener Museum: part A

Saint George Slaying the Dragon,1470 by Carlo Crivelli is the painting I chose for this assignment. The first thing I noticed about this painting was how the details in the armor of the soldier and the saddle of the horse have a 3D feel to them. They were painted in such a way that they are raised and cast little shadows that give depth. Saint George and his horse are in the center with the slain dragon to his right(the viewer's left). The saint is wearing beautiful armor of gold, blue and red with raised details. He has a sword in his hand that is raised and ready to strike as he struggles to stay atop the frightened horse. The horse is standing on his hind legs and has a red and gold saddle with details like the armor. In the background there is a castle with a woman on her knees praying.

The composition of this painting makes Saint George the center of attention. The colors of his armor and his horse are much brighter than anything else in the scene. The background is also bright, but without many contrasting colors around it, it blends in. The dim lighting adds to the dark, treacherous mood of the painting. The line of the sword mimics the line of the path behind it as well as the angle of the horses stance. These lines seem to lead the viewer's eyes to left, where the story begins.

The artists tells a story which to me, is obvious. Saint George is riding a horse which implies that he traveled to this remote castle. The woman kneeling in the back seems helpless, praying to be saved. Here comes Saint George to slay the dragon and bring her to safety!