Doorway Lintel

myminifactory

In Genoa's winding streets, homes were often constructed in narrow, steep passages. This led to lintels becoming the ideal location for exterior embellishments. Frequently, these were carved with images of St George and the Dragon or the Annunciation, signaling the piety of the homeowner and sometimes incorporating sacred inscriptions. It is likely that this work was created by a disciple of Giovanni Gaggini (active after 1449, deceased in 1517). St George and the Dragon, a relief sculpture carved into slate, depicts St George in left profile, spear in hand, as he confronts the dragon in the foreground to the left. The saint is fully armored and his cloak flows behind him. To his right and left stand men in armor, each wielding a mace; both figures hold shields that have been defaced. In the background, a rocky landscape unfolds, featuring (to the left) the princess in prayer and (to the right) the king and queen with their court, as well as a shepherd piping while his sheep graze below. The relief is recessed within a molded border. Parts of the border have been chipped away on the upper left center and to the left. The lower section of St George's spear is missing. Breaks can be seen in the lower part of the left front leg and both rear legs of the horse, as well as the maces carried by the armed figures at the sides. The shepherd has been extensively abraded. A triangular section at the bottom has been broken and repaired.