St George and the Dragon

The subject matter of St George and the Dragon is set in a wide, open space, unlike anything Carpaccio had ever done before. The entirety of the foreground is arranged along a diagonal line that extends from the praying princes, through St George on his horse, and to the end of the wounded and dying dragon’s tail. On the ground, baked by the sun, we can see the realistically portrayed remains of the dragon's victims as well as vipers, lizards, toads, and vultures. To the left, along the terraces of the fairytale palaces, the inhabitants of Selene watch the outcome of this extraordinary tournament.