Italian Artist, Plaque of George Slaying the Dragon, 1870, Marble

Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour marble relief depicting St George slaying the Dragon.

England has always been one of the leading countries in terms of travelling and exploring. It is in fact here that the tradition of the Grand Tour began in the 17th century. The Grand Tour was a period of foreign travel commonly undertaken by gentlemen to finish off their education. The definition was first introduced to the public by a Roman Catholic priest named Richard Lassels in his 1670 book Voyage to Italy. He recommended it as a sort of rite of passage to adulthood and a priceless chance to gain a broader knowledge of the world. The aim of these journeys was to see the remains of the great Roman and Greek civilisations, to admire the architecture and art of Renaissance, to perfect the foreign languages and broaden their cultural horizons. For at least 200 years, the Grand Tour was a privilege only available to a small and extremely wealthy élite.

The Grand Tourists were primarily interested in visiting cities that were considered the major centres of culture at the time - Paris, Rome, and Venice were not to be missed. Florence and Naples were also popular destinations, where pieces such as these would have been purchased as souvenirs.

CONDITION
In Great Condition - wear as expected.

SIZE
with Frame:
Height: 93 cm // 36.61 in
Width: 62 cm // 24.41 in
Depth: 4 cm // 1.57 in

Without Frame:
Height: 72 cm // 28.35 in
Width: 50 cm // 19.69 in
Depth: 6 cm // 2.36 in