King George's Fight Behind the Dragon - Jerzy the Victor The theme of the painting is the victory of St. George over the dragon. The legend was born during the Crusades, and the first records come from the Cappadocia regions. The Golden Legend mentioned her. According to her, in the third century, the soldier George killed the dragon plaguing his native Cappadocia in Asia Minor and thus saved the sacrificed princess. In fact, it was an allegorical story about the actual events related to the adoption of Christianity by Cappadocia, mainly thanks to the efforts of, among others, st. George. In iconography, Jerzy pierces the dragon with a spear. The monster is a symbol of Satan. The rescued princess symbolizes Cappadocia and its cities. Over time, the metaphorical story began to be taken literally, and the dragon and the woman became the attributes of Saint George. Tintoretto has traditionally presented the motif in a way that is characteristic of it. The composition is full of movement and dynamics. The viewer has the impression that everything is moving. The colors, the high horizon and the bird's-eye perspective give the impression of the theatrical nature of the composition. In the foreground, a woman running away is visible, different from the traditionally presented subject. Her red robe flutters in the wind. Terrified, she still looks at the scene taking place behind her. There, Jerzy on horseback is piercing the dragon with his spear. Next to them lies the body of a dead man, probably a dragon victim. The layout of the corpse resembles the crucified Christ. Clouds are swirling over the fight, illuminated by a round glow. In the center of the light, the figure of God is visible, who seems to be watching the scene on earth and approving of Jerzy's actions. The contours of the city are visible in the background.