Saint George and the Dragon Illustrated by Steven Noble

Saint George and the Dragon was commissioned for a book illustration as the motif of Saint George as a knight on horseback slaying the dragon. The story goes that Saint George by chance rode past the lake where the princess tried to send him away, but he vowed to remain. The dragon emerged from the lake while they were conversing. Saint George made the Sign of the Cross and charged it on horseback, seriously wounding it with his lance. He then called to the princess to throw him her girdle, and he put it around the dragon's neck. When she did so, the dragon followed the girl like a meek beast on a leash. The illustration was created by hand and hand painted onto scratchboard.