Description
This embroidery probably hung as an offering beneath a larger, painted image of St. George. It depicts two legendary exploits of the 4th-century Christian martyr. Seated on the saddle behind him is a boy whom George miraculously delivered from Muslim captivity and returned home. At the same time, the saint is saving a princess from the dragon that is about to devour her.
Provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Inscriptions
[Transcription] Below the image: + Ποίημα ἐμου Χρισάνθου κυπρίου ἱεροδιακόνου τοῦ ἁγίου Κ(ο)ν(σ)τ(αντίνου) Κουκούματ(ος) […] αψϟβ᾿ [around the image, starting above it and continuing on its right and left sides] Δέξαι δέησιν, θαυματούργε / Γεώργιε, τοῦ σοῦ οἰκέτου χατζή Γεωργίου / μετὰ τῆς συμβίου καὶ τῶν τέκνων, γ(ο)ν(έων), ἀδ(ελ)φ(ῶν); [Translation] + Work of me, Chrisanthus the Cypriot, deacon of the [Church of] Saint Constantine at Koukouma […], 1792.
around the image, starting above it and continuing on its right and left sides:
O miracle-worker George, receive the prayer of your servant, pilgrim George, with his consort and children, parents [and] brothers.
