Description

This bust represents Saint George, using his traditional iconography, as a bearded young knight wearing his battle helmet and full armour. The armour is decorated in a rich estofada style featuring small circles and orles with plant motifs. His military attire appears to be that of the 16th C. Together with the figure of Saint Apollonia, this is the only bust of the series that is represented without arms. In the middle of his chest is a reliquary, positioned so as to appear to be hanging from a gold chain. Originally, it would have held a relic of this saint. The reliquary is framed in the mannerist style, decorated with “C”s and volutes, and is considered one of the most delightful of the whole series of busts.

Considering the predominant features of its style (elongated figure, lack of expression, the treatment of his curly beard, which is presented in a simple symmetrical form) and the type of moulding used, this reliquary can be considered representative of Sevillian mannerism, from the last quarter of the 16th C.

The bust – like the other nine such pieces kept at the Iglesia de la Anunciación – originally formed part of the church’s old chapel of relics, which nowadays is used as the sacristy. It bears witness to the profound devotion practiced by the Jesuits in relation to the relics of saints – a form of worship that was promoted by the founder of the Society of Jesus, Saint Ignatius of Loyola.