MARZAL DE SAX, Andrés
(active 1393-1410 in Valencia)

Retable of St George (detail)

c. 1400
Tempera on wood
Victoria and Albert Museum, London

This battle scene is the central panel of a retable dedicated to St George. There are several assumptions concerning the exact datation and location of the represented battle. The most acceptable is that it was the battle of El Puig de Santa Maria (Hill of Saint Mary, about 8 miles from Valencia) which took place in September 1238. After the battle Valencia was surrendered to the Catalan king, James I the Conqueror. On the painting St George is participating in the battle on the side of the Catalan king.