George. 1885 Valentin Serov (1865-1911)
Valentin Serov – George. 1885
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Painter: Valentin Serov
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Valentin Serov was an outstanding master animalist. He paid most attention in his works to the depiction of horses. We can see these animals in almost all the paintings of the great Russian artist. Despite the fact that the work is called "St. George the Victorious," the main active figure is exactly a horse. The first thing we see when we look at the picture - a formidable, powerful figure of the horse.
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Description of Valentin Serov’s painting "St. George the Victorious".
Valentin Serov was an outstanding master animalist. He paid most attention in his works to the depiction of horses. We can see these animals in almost all the paintings of the great Russian artist. Despite the fact that the work is called "St. George the Victorious," the main active figure is exactly a horse.
The first thing we see when we look at the picture - a formidable, powerful figure of the horse. Serov deliberately muted, darkens the background of the work, making it almost black. On the background of this gloom, like thunder in the middle of a clear sky bursts furious animal. Serov depicts the horse in white, to emphasize its exclusivity, pedigree. It seems that just a second later the horse will stand on its pounce and strike the snake with its hooves. The horse’s figure is very dynamic and textured. Big, sharp brush strokes give a special relief to the animal.
The rider on the horse is depicted as St. George. What is striking is that the artist depicted the human figure virtually invisible - it merges with the black background. We can see the massive dark armor on the man’s body. On his head - the freakishly shaped helmet of pure gold. It is worth noting that Serov depicts a luminous halo above the head of the man, which always corresponds to the iconography. But the master depicts a far departure from the canons of painting icons. The painting shows aggression, movement and dynamics, which is uncharacteristic for the depiction of saints, especially on icons.
At the bottom of the work is a serpent. Some sources also say that St. George the Victorious fought not with the serpent, but with a huge dragon. The beast is depicted in dark colors, almost merging with the night darkness. St. George swung and pierced the writhing body of the monster with his spear. The artist depicted the spear in red. Next to the serpent lies a human skull.
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Картина очень мрачна, но на ней видна победа... как то так
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The figure on horseback is rendered with an almost unsettling intensity. The head appears to be that of a goat, its eyes wide and seemingly fixed on some distant point. This bestial quality disrupts any straightforward interpretation of heroism or nobility often associated with equestrian portraits. The rider’s posture is rigid, the body encased in what seems like armor or a restrictive garment, further contributing to an impression of constraint and perhaps suffering.
The horse itself appears agitated, its legs braced as if struggling against an unseen force. Its white form stands out starkly against the dark background, yet it does not convey grace or power; rather, it suggests a creature burdened by circumstance. The ground beneath them is uneven and rocky, depicted with loose brushstrokes that emphasize instability and difficulty.
The surrounding darkness is not merely a backdrop but an active element in the painting. It obscures details and creates a sense of claustrophobia, suggesting a world shrouded in mystery or menace. A faint glow emanates from behind the figure’s head, hinting at some internal struggle or perhaps a symbolic illumination.
Subtextually, this work seems to explore themes of sacrifice, burden, and the potential for monstrousness within humanity. The combination of human and animal features suggests a questioning of identity and the blurring of boundaries between civilized and primal instincts. The restricted color scheme and agitated composition evoke feelings of anxiety and unease, implying that the depicted scene is not one of triumph but rather of enduring hardship or an inescapable fate. The red pole could be interpreted as a symbol of both authority and pain – a tool used to assert dominance while simultaneously inflicting suffering. Overall, the painting conveys a sense of profound psychological tension and invites contemplation on the darker aspects of human existence.