St. George and the Dragon

Artist: Jacob Hughes

Mural by Jacob Hughes, painted in Summer 2015 on the exterior north-facing wall of Robert Kananaj Gallery, 172 St. Helens Avenue. Size: 100 feet wide by 20 feet high. Materials: Spray paint, house paint using extension rollers, paint markers.

A street art re-interpretation of the old trope of St. George the Martyr, battling the Dragon. This 2015 version is based on a 1502 renaissance painting by Vittore Carpaccio. In the new version the figures have been warped using photoshop and stripped of their 16th century surroundings. They instead exist here, in Toronto, displayed on the raw cinder block of a former industrial warehouse building in the West End. In a notable change from former paintings of the same theme, this St. George has no lance, and the Dragon flees in fear rather than battling the martyr. Jacob Hughes’ version was painted as a response to a different mural by artist Istvan Kantor, on the same wall. The mural has since received a third layer response by artist Oscar Figueroa, as the wall (and neighbourhood) continues to evolve.

Where to Find This Mural

Location: 172 St Helens Ave, Toronto, ON M6H 4A1, Canada Get Directions