What is “St. George on Horseback” by Albrecht Dürer (1508)?

It’s a German Renaissance engraving by Albrecht Dürer, dated 1508. This engraving print shows the saint as a calm, armored rider in a tight, story-focused scene.

What is happening in the scene, and what does it mean?

Saint George rides forward in plate armor while his horse steps over the dragon. The cross banner makes the story easy to read: it’s a classic “evil defeated” image, done with Dürer’s clean, precise linework.

How detailed is it in real life, and how big was the original?

The original engraving is small, roughly 11 x 8.5 cm, but it’s packed with fine lines. That’s why it feels sharp even when you get close and study the armor plates, the horse’s muscles, and the dragon’s curled body.

Will it arrive safely with international shipping?

Yes. We ship worldwide and pack prints rolled, wrapped in bubble wrap, and placed in a sturdy cardboard box so they hold up well during long-distance travel.

Can I order a custom size, and how is the print finished?

Yes. Choose a standard size on the product page, or message us for custom sizing. Each print is made on hand-processed paper, with softly burned edges, gold paint highlights, and a beeswax finish for a warm parchment-style look that works well as wall art and home decor.

St. George On Horseback - Albrecht Dürer, 1508. (Medieval Knight Artwork)

This vintage art print shows Saint George riding forward in full armor, holding a banner with a cross while his horse steps over the body of a dragon. The whole scene is drawn in fine engraved lines on a warm parchment style background, so you can see the metal plates, the horse’s muscles and the dragon at his feet without the picture feeling crowded. It works well in a study, hallway or reading corner where you want a small, focused scene with a clear story and a bit of drama.

About this art print

This print is based on St George on Horseback, an engraving made by the German artist Albrecht Dürer and dated 1508. on the original. Dürer is best known for his technically precise woodcuts and engravings, and this print belongs to the same period as his studies of horses and armor, like Small Horse and Large Horse. In the original, the whole image fits into a sheet only about 11 by 8.5 centimeters, but the composition is still carefully balanced: saint, horse and dragon form a tight group that fills the space without wasting any line.

Dürer shows George from the side so the story is easy to read at a glance. The horse steps forward, the knight sits upright in plate armor, and the banner with the cross rises above them. The dragon lies twisted on the ground under the hooves, with wings and tail pressed down so you know the fight is over. A simple rocky foreground and a light horizon line finish the scene without pulling attention away from the main figures.

Renaissance artists came back to this saint-and-dragon story many times, but each one pictured the creature a little differently. In Dürer’s version the dragon is small and tightly coiled, almost like a knot at the horse’s feet, which feels very different from the long, stretched body like in the Dragon illustration by Friedrich Justin Bertuch. Together they show how the same idea of a dragon could shift from a compact symbol of “evil defeated” into a calm, almost natural history study of a mythical animal.

Craft & finish

Every replica we make is individually hand-processed in our family workshop. We finish the paper with a traditional beeswax seal to give it a warm, heavy texture. Our team also adds subtle gold paint details by hand to help the artwork truly shine. To complete the look, we hand-burn the edges to give each piece the feel of a true historical artifact.

While our smaller sizes are perfect for gallery walls, our 43x61 cm Large replica is a museum-scale centerpiece. Because of the size, the hand-processing and beeswax application take much longer. This extra time and care ensures that every centimeter of the historic illustration is preserved with a rich, authentic glow.

You can find more pieces like this in our Vintage Art Prints collection.

St. George On Horseback (Albrecht Dürer, 1508.) - Vintage Art Print

Name: St. George On Horseback (Albrecht Dürer, 1508.) - Vintage Art Print
Brand: Artifex Replicas

€49.00

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At Artifex Historical Replicas, we bridge the gap between museum archives and your home. Each piece is a handcrafted historical art print recreated from authentic primary sources, including antique city views and botanical illustrations.

Hand-Processed Paper: We use specialized paper with burned edges and a beeswax finish to replicate the weight and feel of genuine old parchment.

Gilded Details: Our workshop adds subtle real gold accents, bringing the same glow to your walls found in 16th-century illuminated manuscripts.

Custom Sizes & Worldwide Shipping: We offer bespoke sizing for custom frames and ship our historical replicas globally from our family workshop.

Explore our full guide on how we create, display, and restore parchment-style replicas.
Q1: What is “St. George on Horseback” by Albrecht Dürer (1508)?
A: It’s a German Renaissance engraving by Albrecht Dürer, dated 1508. This engraving print shows the saint as a calm, armored rider in a tight, story-focused scene.

Q2: What is happening in the scene, and what does it mean?
A: Saint George rides forward in plate armor while his horse steps over the dragon. The cross banner makes the story easy to read: it’s a classic “evil defeated” image, done with Dürer’s clean, precise linework.

Q3: How detailed is it in real life, and how big was the original?
A: The original engraving is small, roughly 11 x 8.5 cm, but it’s packed with fine lines. That’s why it feels sharp even when you get close and study the armor plates, the horse’s muscles, and the dragon’s curled body.

Q4: Will it arrive safely with international shipping?
A: Yes. We ship worldwide and pack prints rolled, wrapped in bubble wrap, and placed in a sturdy cardboard box so they hold up well during long-distance travel.

Q5: Can I order a custom size, and how is the print finished?
A: Yes. Choose a standard size on the product page, or message us for custom sizing. Each print is made on hand-processed paper, with softly burned edges, gold paint highlights, and a beeswax finish for a warm parchment-style look that works well as wall art and home decor.
Your handmade historical replica is finished with a traditional beeswax seal to create an authentic parchment texture. Because of this artisan process, care is slightly different than a standard poster:

Flattening: If your print has a slight curve from shipping, simply unroll it and place it under clean, flat weights (like books) for 24–48 hours.

Removing Creases: The beeswax finish is flexible. If a crease appears, gently warm the area with a hair dryer on low heat. As the wax relaxes, the crease will vanish into the paper. Note: Avoid open flames to ensure the safety of your art.

Display & Environment: To preserve the rich colors and wax texture, display your print away from direct sunlight, radiators, or humid areas. High heat can soften the wax, and UV light can fade historical inks over time.

Framing Tip: For the best archival look, we recommend framing behind glass in a dry, room-temperature environment.

St. George On Horseback (Albrecht Dürer, 1508.) - Vintage Art Print

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