Untitled (St. George)

Fernando Botero (b. 1932) is a Colombian figurative artist and sculptor known for his 'Boterismo' style of exaggerated volume. 'Untitled (St. George)' is a sanguine and ink on paper drawing of the “Saint George and the Dragon” myth. According to legend, the Greek soldier Saint George fatally wounded a plague-baring dragon with a lance moments before he ate the king’s daughter who was his next prey. Botero renders this classical myth, whose iconography has been painted in countless frescos and widespread through history, in his signature rotund ‘Boterismo’ style. The exaggerated depiction of Saint George in armor charging on horseback pays homage to Botero’s European predecessors in a distinct Latin American style. This ink on paper piece is both satirical and graceful, as it enchants and engages the viewer through art historical legends, a theme dating back through time.