310 - Albrecht Dürer (1471 – Nuremberg – 1528), Saint George on Foot.

Albrecht Dürer (1471 – Nuremberg – 1528), Saint George on Foot. Engraving on laid paper, Bull’s Head watermark (Meder 64). (c. 1502/03). 11.4 x 7.2 cm (sheet). Bartsch 53; Meder 55 a-b (of f); Schoch/Mende/Scherbaum 34 a-b (of f). A very fine Meder a-b impression, printed sharply and clearly with good contrast and all details distinct. It features the vertical scratch along the upper half of the right margin, preceding the scratches in the landscape and the dragon, as specified by Meder for the early prints. It has narrow margins around the borderline. Albrecht Dürer depicts Saint George standing upright in full armor, rendered with meticulous precision. In his left hand, he holds a partially visible banner bearing a cross within a circle—a subtle yet clear symbol of Christian victory. At his feet lies the slain dragon, reduced in scale and detail, drawing attention not to the violence of the act, but to the calm dignity of the saint. Through delicate hatching and a refined use of light and line, Dürer imbues the figure with both sculptural presence and inner tension. The composition reflects his engagement with Italian Renaissance ideals as well as his grounding in Northern devotional imagery. The paper shows signs of age; on the reverse, remnants of a previous mounting are visible in the upper and lower right corners. A smoothed horizontal crease, not visible on the front. A tiny, closed tear on the right edge. A light stain on the reverse; otherwise in good condition. Taxation: subject to differential taxation (VAT: Margin Scheme).