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Student Artwork Guide

Saint George

Carlo Crivelli, 1470

Name Class Date
Carlo Crivelli, Saint George (1470). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Carlo Crivelli originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/carlo-crivelli/
Artist’s dates
1435 – 1495
Painted
1470
Medium
Tempera On Panel Pigment mixed with egg yolk — fast-drying, matt, and used for centuries before oil paint arrived.
Original size
90 x 46 cm
Movement
Early Renaissance The first generation to rebuild depth and lifelike bodies in painting after the Middle Ages.
Period
Renaissance
Artistic style
Late Gothic decorative sensibility
Influences
Vivarini, Squarcione, Mantegna
Notable elements
Gold backgrounds, trompe l'oeil
Subject or theme
Saint George and the dragon

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Carlo Crivelli died in 1495; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1565.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 2, 2026

Saint George — Carlo Crivelli Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Saint George — Carlo Crivelli

How big is it?

The original measures 90 × 46 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1430
  2. 1440
  3. 1450
  4. 1460
  5. 1470
  6. 1480
  7. 1490

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 60 at death.

Painted when the artist was 35. The artist lived to 60. 8 of the 105 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Carlo Crivelli (1435–1495) ▲ this work, 1470 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1473 Main working years: 1473–1490 Late works: from 1490

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/carlo-crivelli-saint-george-8XXR6G-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Espresso #412e2a

    Catalogued palette

    • #412E2A
    • #C09F85
    • #6F4C40
    • #97705B

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Espresso
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Carlo Crivelli over the last twelve months — 13 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 64.9%
    2. 2 United States of America 15.8%
    3. 3 Singapore 6.1%
    4. 4 Hong Kong 2.6%
    5. 5 Germany 1.8%
    6. 6 Mexico 1.8%
    7. 7 Uruguay 1.8%
    8. 8 Austria 0.9%
    9. 9 Brazil 0.9%
    10. 10 Spain 0.9%
    11. · 3 other countries 2.5%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Carlo Crivelli

    1. 1 Virgin and Child, 1482 3.8%
    2. 2 Madonna of the Passion, 1460 3.0%
    3. 3 Annunciation with Saint Emidius, 1486 3.0%
    4. 4 Lamentation over the Dead Christ, 1485 2.3%
    5. 5 St Jerome and St Augustine (detail), 1490 2.3%
    6. 6 St George, 1472 2.3%
    7. 7 St Jerome and St Augustine, 1490 2.3%
    8. 8 Polittico di Ascoli Piceno 2.3%
    9. 9 St. Thomas of Aquino 2.3%
    10. 10 María Magdalena 1 2.3%
    11. 11 Apostol St. Peter 2.3%
    12. 12 Virgin proclamation, 1482 1.5%
    13. 13 Saint Bartholomew, 1475 1.5%
    14. 14 Madonna and Child Enthroned, 1477 1.5%
    15. 15 Saint James of the Marches with two kneeling donor, 1477 1.5%
    16. 16 Saint Michael, 1476 1.5%
    17. 17 Apostles, 1473 1.5%
    18. 18 Saint John the Baptist, 1468 1.5%
    19. 19 Coronation of the Virgin, 1493 1.5%
    20. 41 Saint George, 1470 this painting 0.8%

    Together these works take 41.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 192 works by this artist, of which 83 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 41 of them, with 0.8% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 2, 2026

    Saint George — Carlo Crivelli Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    Saint George — Carlo Crivelli

    A Heroic Encounter in Gold and Tempera

    In the quiet halls of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, there exists a window into a more chivalric age, captured through the masterful hand of Carlo Crivelli. His 1470 masterpiece, Saint George, is not merely a painting but a dramatic stage set in the vibrant, textured language of the Early Renaissance. The scene unfolds with an intense focus on the legendary knight as he confronts the forces of darkness. Mounted upon a powerful horse that leans into the frame, Saint George embodies the quintessential warrior-saint, his armor gleaming with a meticulousness that suggests both physical weight and spiritual purity. Crivelli invites the viewer to step into a world where the boundaries between the earthly and the divine are blurred by the shimmering presence of gold and the sharp, decisive lines of a master storyteller.

    The technique employed in this work is a testament to the enduring beauty of the tempera on panel method. Crivelli, a painter who flourished in the Veneto and later the March of Ancona, utilized a style that bridged the gap between the ornate, decorative flourishes of the Late Gothic period and the burgeoning realism of the Renaissance. Every stroke serves a purpose; the artist’s use of trompe l'oeil effects creates a tactile reality where the scales of the dragon and the heavy folds of fabric feel almost touchable. The color palette, dominated by warm ochres, deep browns, and radiant golds, casts a somber yet heroic glow over the composition, ensuring that the eye is constantly drawn to the intricate details of the knight's struggle.

    Symbolism and the Triumph of Virtue

    Beyond its visual splendor, the painting serves as a profound allegorical narrative. To the Renaissance mind, the battle depicted was far more than a historical or mythological skirmish; it was a cosmic struggle between Christian virtue and the creeping shadows of sin. Saint George, positioned as the defender of the faith, represents the triumph of light over darkness, while the dragon serves as a visceral embodiment of temptation and chaos. The structured, almost geometric composition—with its carefully layered landscape and distant, fortified architecture—provides a sense of divine order amidst the violence of the encounter. This tension between the chaotic movement of the combatants and the rigid, beautiful framework of the painting creates an emotional resonance that continues to captivate collectors and historians alike.

    For the discerning collector or interior designer, a high-quality reproduction of this work offers more than just decoration; it brings a sense of historical gravity and sophisticated texture to a space. The piece functions as a focal point of narrative depth, perfect for an environment that values classical elegance and the evocative power of fine art. Whether placed in a study filled with books or a grand living area, the Saint George reproduction serves as a timeless reminder of the enduring human spirit and the exquisite craftsmanship of the Italian Renaissance.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 2, 2026

    Saint George — Carlo Crivelli Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Carlo Crivelli

    Born in Venice, Italy

    early life and training

    carlo crivelli, an italian renaissance painter, was born in venice around 1430-35. he came from a family of painters and received his artistic formation in venice and padua. crivelli's early training is believed to have been under jacobello del fiore, who was still active in 1436. he also studied at the school of vivarini in venice.

    career and style

    crivelli spent his early years in the veneto, absorbing influences from vivarini, squarcione, and mantegna. by 1458, he left the veneto and spent most of his career in the march of ancona, developing a distinctive personal style that contrasts with that of his venetian contemporary giovanni bellini. crivelli's work is characterized by a conservative late gothic decorative sensibility, marked by a linear quality, attention to detail, and the use of "trompe l'oeil" techniques.

    notable works and collaborations

    * carlo crivelli's painting "madonna and child enthroned" (106 x 55 cm, museum of fine arts, budapest, hungary) is a prime example of his style. he collaborated with his younger brother vittorio crivelli on several projects. pietro alemanno, a painter who immigrated to the march of ancona from germany/austria, was his pupil and collaborator.

    museums and collections

    * the pinacoteca di brera in milan, italy, features several of crivelli's works, including "pietà" (128 x 241 cm). * the museum san giovanni in bragora in venice, italy, has a collection of artworks from various periods and styles, including some attributed to crivelli.

    view carlo crivelli's artworks on AllPaintingsStore.com

    explore jacopo robusti's works on AllPaintingsStore.com

    read more about carlo crivelli on wikipedia

    crivelli's legacy continues to inspire art enthusiasts and scholars alike, with his work remaining a testament to the enduring power of conservative late gothic decorative sensibility.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Saint George

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/carlo-crivelli-saint-george-8XXR6G-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Crivelli, Carlo. Saint George. 1470, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-saint-george-8XXR6G-en/
    APA
    Crivelli, Carlo (1470). Saint George [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-saint-george-8XXR6G-en/
    Chicago
    Carlo Crivelli. Saint George. 1470. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-saint-george-8XXR6G-en/
    Harvard
    Crivelli, Carlo (1470) Saint George. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/carlo-crivelli-saint-george-8XXR6G-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 2, 2026

    Saint George — Carlo Crivelli Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Saint George — Carlo Crivelli

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 2 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: saint george legend, dragon slayer art, medieval narrative. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Virgin and Child (1482), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 2, 2026

    Saint George — Carlo Crivelli Part 5 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    In which movement and which era is "Saint George" by Carlo Crivelli placed?

    "Saint George" by Carlo Crivelli is placed in the Early Renaissance movement, within the Renaissance era of its creator.

    What was Carlo Crivelli's age when "Saint George" was created?

    Carlo Crivelli made "Saint George" at the age of 35. The artist was born in 1435 and the work is dated 1470.

    At what size is "Saint George" recommended to be printed?

    A medium reproduction is suggested for "Saint George" by Carlo Crivelli. Size can be adjusted while keeping the proportions.