Byzantine Icon Painting: St George & the Dragon

About this course

Participants study a 15th-century Novgorod icon of St George and the Dragon and create their own painted icon based on this example. The course considers how saints and animals are represented, including the symbolic relationship between St George, the horse and the dragon. It introduces the history and meaning of Byzantine icons alongside practical instruction in painting with translucent layers of egg tempera, natural and semi-precious pigments, clay and gold leaf gilding.

What you'll learn

• Create an icon based on a 15th-century Novgorod depiction of St George and the Dragon
• Apply translucent layers of egg tempera
• Use natural and semi-precious pigments in icon painting
• Apply clay and gold leaf gilding techniques
• Explain aspects of the history and meaning of Byzantine icons

Is this course right for you?

The course is listed as suitable for all levels. It combines an introduction to Byzantine icon painting with the creation of an icon, making it relevant to learners approaching the tradition at different stages of familiarity.