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St George and the Dragon

Statuette
1632-1639 (model)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
In the late 16th century, the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Bologna (1529-1608, active in Florence) and his followers were responsible for a significant output of sophisticated and high quality statuettes. These became dispersed throughout Europe and Charles I inherited a group from his elder brother, Henry, who died in 1612. They doubtless influenced both the King's taste and the imaginative production of Francesco Fanelli.

Materials & Making
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, though its exact content can vary. Fanelli's 'bronzes' actually appear to be brass, which is a copper-zinc alloy, with a dark lacquer applied to the surface.

Ownership & Use
Similar bronzes of equestrian subjects were produced by Fanelli for John Holles, the Earl (and later Duke) of Newcastle, governor of the future Charles II. A version of this bronze and a 'Cupid on Horseback' were listed in an inventory of the King's collection at Whitehall Palace in 1639. Both were sold from the royal collection in 1649, after Charles I's execution, but were traced by an agent of Charles II following the restoration of the monarchy. They are now at Windsor Castle.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • St George and the Dragon
  • St George on Horseback (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze, lost-wax casting; sand casting (base)
Brief description
Statuette, bronze, St George and the Dragon, by Francesco Fanelli (1577-after 1641), Anglo-Italian, England (London), 1632-1639 (model). 
Physical description
This group represents St George on horseback in armour, holding a lance with both hands, being in the process of pushing the lance into the open mouth of the dragon. Both the horse's front legs as well as the dragon's front legs are lifted from the ground.
Dimensions
  • Height: 19.1cm
  • Base width: 9.6cm
  • Depth: 24.8cm
  • Base depth: 15.6cm
Dimensions checked: measured; by SCP
Gallery label
British Galleries: THREE BRONZES BY FANELLI
Records show that small bronzes like these stood on the windowsills of important rooms in Whitehall Palace. Charles I admired Italian statuettes, having inherited an important group from his elder brother, Prince Henry (1594-1612). He went on to buy the famous Gonzaga collection of antique sculpture for £10,000.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1953.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
In the late 16th century, the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Bologna (1529-1608, active in Florence) and his followers were responsible for a significant output of sophisticated and high quality statuettes. These became dispersed throughout Europe and Charles I inherited a group from his elder brother, Henry, who died in 1612. They doubtless influenced both the King's taste and the imaginative production of Francesco Fanelli.

Materials & Making
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, though its exact content can vary. Fanelli's 'bronzes' actually appear to be brass, which is a copper-zinc alloy, with a dark lacquer applied to the surface.

Ownership & Use
Similar bronzes of equestrian subjects were produced by Fanelli for John Holles, the Earl (and later Duke) of Newcastle, governor of the future Charles II. A version of this bronze and a 'Cupid on Horseback' were listed in an inventory of the King's collection at Whitehall Palace in 1639. Both were sold from the royal collection in 1649, after Charles I's execution, but were traced by an agent of Charles II following the restoration of the monarchy. They are now at Windsor Castle.
Bibliographic references
  • Per Rumberg, Desmond Shawe (ed.), Charles I King and Collector,catalogue of the exhibition (Royal Academy of Arts, London, 27 January-15 April 2018), London 2018, p. 251, cat. 115 (entry by Lucy Whitaker). 
  • Emilie von Binnebeke, Bronze Sculpture: Sculpture from 1500-1800 in the Collection of the Boymans-van-Beuningen Museum, Rotterdam 1994, pp. 132, 3, cat. no. 38.
  • David Howarth, 'Charles I, Sculpture and Sculptor's', in Anthony MacGregor (ed.), The Late King's Goods, London & Oxford 1989, no. 3, fig. 43, p. 93.
  • Oliver Millar (ed.), ‘Abraham Van der Doort’s Catalogue of the Collection of Charles I’, Walpole Society, XXXVII, 1960, p. 94.  
  • John Pope-Hennessy, ‘Some Bronze Statuette by Francesco Fanelli’, The Burlington Magazine, 95, 1953, fig. 11, pp. 156-62.
  • George Vertue, ‘Note book 1713-1756’, IV, Walpole Society, XXIV, 1936, p. 110.
Collection
Accession number
A.5-1953

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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