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UK: Britain Needs You At Once. First World War recruitment poster featuring a British George and an Austro-German Dragon, London, 1915
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UK: Britain Needs You At Once. First World War recruitment poster featuring a British George and an Austro-German Dragon, London, 1915
The story of Saint George and the Dragon appended to the hagiography of Saint George was Eastern in origin, brought back with the Crusaders and retold with the courtly appurtenances belonging to the genre of Romance. The earliest known depictions of the motif are from tenth- or eleventh-century Cappadocia and eleventh-century Georgia; previously, in the iconography of Eastern Orthodoxy, George had been depicted as a soldier since at least the seventh century. The earliest known surviving narrative of the dragon episode is an eleventh-century Georgian text.
The dragon motif was first combined with the already standardised Passio Georgii in Vincent of Beauvais encyclopedic Speculum Historiale, and then Jacobus de Voragines Golden Legend (ca 1260) guaranteed its popularity in the later Middle Ages as a literary and pictorial subject. The legend gradually became part of the Christian traditions relating to Saint George and was used in many festivals thereafter
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Media ID 25768252
© Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd
Chivalry Christian Dragon First World War Germany Great Britain Historical Images Historical Pictures History Images History Pictures Horse Knight Mythology Painting Paintings Poster Poster Art United Kingdom Weapon World War I Austria Hungary Dragons Myth St George
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a powerful recruitment poster from the First World War era, featuring an iconic British figure, George, and a fearsome Austro-German Dragon. Created in London in 1915, this poster aimed to inspire patriotism and encourage men to join the war effort. The imagery of Saint George and the Dragon holds deep historical roots. Originating from Eastern traditions brought back by Crusaders and retold with courtly embellishments belonging to Romance literature, it became popularized in Western iconography during the Middle Ages. The earliest known depictions of this motif date back to tenth or eleventh-century Cappadocia and Georgia. Vincent of Beauvais' encyclopedic work Speculum Historiale combined the dragon motif with Passio Georgii, while Jacobus de Voragine's Golden Legend further solidified its popularity during the later Middle Ages as both a literary and pictorial subject. The legend gradually became intertwined with Christian traditions surrounding Saint George, finding its way into various festivals throughout history. This recruitment poster cleverly taps into these cultural associations to evoke bravery, heroism, and national pride among potential recruits. Preserved through time by Pictures From History under Universal Images Group (UIG), this print serves as a poignant reminder of how art can be used for propaganda purposes during times of conflict. It stands as a testament not only to the historical significance of Saint George but also to the enduring power of visual storytelling in shaping public sentiment.
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