St George and the Dragon

This shallow relief (rilievo schiacciato) was inspired by Donatello’s work of the same subject dating from a century before, while Rustici borrowed some of its details from paintings by Paolo Uccello and Sandro Botticelli, and evoked antiquity by including the Pantheon. The rearing horse of St George reflects Leonardo’s invention, exemplified by the famous bronze Horse and Rider in Budapest. These sophisticated references were principally addressed to humanists from the sculptor’s circle.