Saint George Renaissance Sculpture

Saint George, ca. 1417
Donatello (Italian, ca. 1386–1466)
Marble; H. 82 1/4 in. (209 cm)

The people of the small Libyan village were distraught.  At the bottom of the spring that provided their drinking water, a fire-breathing dragon had made its nest!

At first, the dragon accepted the people’s offerings of sheep in exchange for their water.  Now, he wanted their children.  Resigned to their fate, the people complied, lest everyone in the village die of thirst. 

A young defender of Christianity named George was said to have journeyed for many months by land and sea when he heard of the village’s plight.  By the time he arrived, the king’s own daughter, a beautiful princess, was the only child left…

The tale of St. George and the Dragon is a gripping story of good over evil that continues to inspire.  Countless images of this soldier-turned-saint have found their way into Western art, but perhaps none more moving than a marble statue carved by a young sculptor in Italy by the name of Donatello.

Donatello’s St. George earned his reputation as the greatest living sculptor in Italy.  And it’s no surprise.  The saint is infused with energy of a soldier at rest yet ready for battle: a proud, youthful and self-confident hero, a Renaissance ideal.

Donatello’s statue originally stood at the church of Orsanmichele in Florence.  Removed long ago, it now resides in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello. The original is one-of-a-kind and can only be viewed behind closed gallery doors.  But thanks to our special relationships with the most talented reproduction artists around the globe, an exact replica of Donatello’s masterpiece can be yours to cherish.

The replication process starts just as Donatello did: with a rock of solid marble, sometimes weighing several tons.  After preparing the rock, the artist shapes the figure using the very best tools and authentic techniques of Donatello’s own hand. 

The fine carving, the gentle details… all these come from a master craftsman’s eye and care.  The artist has spent many hours internalizing this piece so as not to miss a single detail.

With Museum Replicas, you won’t just imagine this process.  At each stage you’ll receive a series of high resolution photographs showing you exactly how your piece is progressing.  You’re a part of the process, every step of the way!

Your input is very important to us, and your satisfaction is absolutely guaranteed.  The artist will not move on to the next stage without your approval, and the piece is not done until you say it’s done.  You won’t find this kind of quality assurance anywhere else.

Donatello’s St. George is just one of hundreds of masterpieces in marble we can flawlessly recreate for your home or office, such as:

• The Pieta by Michelangelo (Basilica of St Peter, the Vatican): http://www.museum-replicas.com/p-1950-pieta-marble-renaissance-sculpture.aspx. One of the most magnificent sculptures ever created, Michelangelo crafted the Pieta in less than two years from a single slab of marble.  In a dramatic departure from previous interpretations of the Pieta, Michelangelo created a youthful, serene and celestial Virgin Mary instead of a brokenhearted older woman.

• The Venus de Milo (Musee du Louvre, Paris):http://www.museum-replicas.com/p-1504-venus-de-milo-marble-sculpture.aspx The world’s most treasured statue of the Goddess of Love herself was first discovered by a peasant, tucked inside a buried niche within the ancient city ruins of Milos in 1820.  Hungry for a potential sale, the peasant called on Oliver Voutier, a French naval officer exploring the island. With the help of the young farmer, Voutier began to dig around what were clearly ancient ruins. In only a few hours’ time, Voutier uncovered a piece of art that would become renowned the whole world over…

As you can see, a fascinating story lies behind each of these masterpieces.  Indeed, I’ve only just scratched the surface of Venus de Milo’s story… it has far too many twists and turns for the short space I have here!  Your friends and guests will love these stories too.  But whether you reveal the story of your replica’s true origins are entirely up to you.

Order directly from the site, or speak with us to make arrangements. 

Just call 866-472-4090 or 517 347-7983. 

Remember, you’re always free to give us a call to discuss a potential project or to simply ask a question – there’s never any obligation.  You can also reach us by email at info@museum-replicas.com.

PS: Donatello’s choice of St. George for the Orsanmichele was no accident!  The niche in which the statue stood was devoted to the Florence Guild of Armourers and Swordmakers; St. George was their patron saint.  Order your very own St. George statue here.

All marble sculptures are custom made one sculpture at a time.

The artist always starts with a clay model.

Sizes and prices on our website are suggested sizes and prices.

If you are interested in a specific sculpture, please call us 866-472-4090 or 517-347-7983 with the size

you would prefer and we will give you a free quote.