About this work
Church of Narga Selassie, Dek Island, Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Late 18th century. St. George is Ethiopia's patron saint. The woman in the tree on the right symbolizes Ethiopia, and is always present in Ethiopian Orthodox paintings of this scene.
Original catalogue wording
Church of Narga Selassie, Dek Island, Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Late 18th century. St. George is Ethiopia's patron saint. The woman in the tree on the right symbolizes Ethiopia, and is always present in Ethiopian Orthodox paintings of this scene. To my eyes, the dragon in this piece looks Asian, especially about the head. For having such pretty wings and a colorful body, this big lizard certainly has unattractive and frightening paws. I suppose the artist wanted to avoid creating an enchantingly lovely dragon. And, of course, St. George's horse, like all horses in Ethiopian religious art of this period, is so cute and perky you'd think he was trying to walk away with the scene.
Source classification: sacred art
- Date
- Not recorded in the catalogue
- Object type
- Sacred art
- Recorded place
- Ethiopia