Famous painting - Rubens

Description

St. George and the Dragon - Rubens (1606)

It was interesting.
It was fun.
It was worth it.

What is the biggest compliment for a 400 year old painting (and the painter)?

The fact that I go to a museum and look at it? - No.
The fact that I buy it in an auction? - No.
The fact that I put it on a wall if I have it? - No.

The greatest compliment is that I draw it...

About the original painting

Summary of the legend

The title character 'George' is a Christian martyr, who reportedly died in the year 303 during the persecution of Christians.
The dragon legend emerged about 800 years later (Crusades).

• An evil dragon bullies a city with its poisonous breath -> people die
• To avoid that a lottery is introduced (to select human sacrifice for the dragons)
• Eventually, the lot falls on the king's daughter
• First, the king fights against this destiny, but he has to give but at the end
• When the daughter is to be handed over to the dragon, George appears
• George slays the dragon, and a lot of people can be baptized
• The victory of the good believers over the devil (dragon) and the Council for baptism is the real message behind the legend

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Steps

top/left predrawing (pencil)
top/right blackshading (pencil)
bottom/left softshading rough (graphite-powder with fingers)
bottom/right softshading smooth (graphit-powder with folded paper)
bottom hardshading (pencil)

final drawing

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Tools/Material