Dalí transforms the traditional iconography of the legend of Saint George, in a symbolic and interpretive work. The Saint is the brave knight in shining golden armor, represented in the act of inflicting the mortal blow on the dragon and saving the life of the princess of Selene at his side.
Metamorphic touches find their way into this sculpture: the dragon’s wings morph into flames and the tongue is formed like a crutch, one of Dalí’s favored symbolic elements.
The absence of facial features both in Saint George and the princess, is a typical Dalinian reference, underlining the purely symbolic significance of the figures.
In this sculpture Dalí focuses on the duality between life and death and good and evil.
A larger size version of this sculpture was presented to Pope John Paul II in 1995 by the Dalí Universe for display in Rome’s Vatican collection.
Date: conceived in 1977, first cast in 1984
Material: bronze
Technique: lost wax process
Edition size : 350 + 35 EA
Height : 46 cm
Edition : patina green/brown
Maquette: original gouache, Saint George and the Dragon, 1977
Direct intervention (created by Dalí): the idea, image, and original maquette
Indirect intervention (created by artisans): lost wax process and patina
