Jump to content
  • The above Banner is a Sponsored Banner.

    Upgrade to Premium Membership to remove this Banner & All Google Ads. For full list of Premium Member benefits Click HERE.

  • Join The Silver Forum

    The Silver Forum is one of the largest and best loved silver and gold precious metals forums in the world, established since 2014. Join today for FREE! Browse the sponsor's topics (hidden to guests) for special deals and offers, check out the bargains in the members trade section and join in with our community reacting and commenting on topic posts. If you have any questions whatsoever about precious metals collecting and investing please join and start a topic and we will be here to help with our knowledge :) happy stacking/collecting. 21,000+ forum members and 1 million+ forum posts. For the latest up to date stats please see the stats in the right sidebar when browsing from desktop. Sign up for FREE to view the forum with reduced ads. 

Pistrucci George & Dragon - Not fit for purpose


Bixley

Recommended Posts

Okay, don't take this too seriously - 

It is a classic design which I love but from a practical viewpoint -

What on earth possessed George to ride bareback? No saddle to hang stirrups from. Essential if you want to give a good thrust with a lance. The fact that a broken lance is discarded on the ground shows what a bad mistake this is. Which leads onto George now using a sword. However, where is his sword belt and scabbard? Carrying both a naked sword and a lance leaves no hand available to control the horse with the reins. 

George seems to have forgotten to put on his trousers or breeches, or any boots. The only other images I have seen of naked riders have been on dubious web sites featuring generously endowed young ladies demonstrating the rising trot. Riding with no leg protection or support in the gentleman's region is going to result in serious chafing and pain.  George also seems to have not given sufficient attention to his horse's bridle. It doesn't have a noseband which is essential to keep the bit in position. And there doesn't seem to be a brow band either, essential to keep the bridle on the horse's head. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Bixley said:

Okay, don't take this too seriously - 

It is a classic design which I love but from a practical viewpoint -

What on earth possessed George to ride bareback? No saddle to hang stirrups from. Essential if you want to give a good thrust with a lance. The fact that a broken lance is discarded on the ground shows what a bad mistake this is. Which leads onto George now using a sword. However, where is his sword belt and scabbard? Carrying both a naked sword and a lance leaves no hand available to control the horse with the reins. 

George seems to have forgotten to put on his trousers or breeches, or any boots. The only other images I have seen of naked riders have been on dubious web sites featuring generously endowed young ladies demonstrating the rising trot. Riding with no leg protection or support in the gentleman's region is going to result in serious chafing and pain.  George also seems to have not given sufficient attention to his horse's bridle. It doesn't have a noseband which is essential to keep the bit in position. And there doesn't seem to be a brow band either, essential to keep the bridle on the horse's head. 

 

 

It was agreed at the time by Pistrucci, William Wellesley Pole, and a certain Lady Spencer that the design of the G&D should be  in the Neo-Classical (Greek) style. Thus he was naked! These questions were asked about at the time. 
This was a mythical/symbolic encounter and therefore did not need to conform to the reality or detail you mentioned.   
However, the critics had a field day with the first design, As a result, within a few weeks it was redesigned, replacing the spear handle with a sword. It then appeared on the silver crown in 1818 but not until 1821 on the Sovereign…….

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would have been nice if you'd posted a picture, and ideally some links to those dubious web sites.

"To get to where I need to be, I start by walking away from where I am."

From the moment you are born, the number of people in the world who are older than you only ever gets smaller.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bareback, not really there would have been a saddle of sorts, even just a towel sized bit of leather which won't be seen as such. Also saddles as we know them didn't come in until the invention of the stirrup, which in turn didn't come to the Byzantine Empire until the late 6th century 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Faux-classical statuary was all the rage at the time, and because reasons it was decided to do the reverse coin design in that style.  Apocryphally, they got a waiter from the hotel Pistrucci was staying at to model for George.  

The Sovereign is the quintessentially British coin.  It has a German queen on the front, an Italian waiter on the back, and half of them were made in Australia.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, KevjustKev said:

Bareback, not really there would have been a saddle of sorts, even just a towel sized bit of leather which won't be seen as such. Also saddles as we know them didn't come in until the invention of the stirrup, which in turn didn't come to the Byzantine Empire until the late 6th century 

But according to Wikipedia the myth of George and the dragon dates to the 11th century which does indict him of not keeping up with the latest technology in dragon slaying.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

52 minutes ago, Bixley said:

But according to Wikipedia the myth of George and the dragon dates to the 11th century which does indict him of not keeping up with the latest technology in dragon slaying.

Half mail coat over a arming shirt, Steel helmet, with nose guard, 'kite shield' or round shield, lance and arming sword. Or just have a look at the Bayeux Tapestry 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What a bunch of heathens!  This was a classical piece of art needing no saddle or protective armour. Pistrucci wanted to display his artwork without all that equine (that's horses to you lot) paraphernalia. 

Its a great image, so stop nit-picking you pedants!  Anyway have another look at this great masterpiece....🐴.😃

 

 

IMG_3862 (2).JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/12/2022 at 00:05, Britannia47 said:

It was agreed at the time by Pistrucci, William Wellesley Pole, and a certain Lady Spencer that the design of the G&D should be  in the Neo-Classical (Greek) style. Thus he was naked! These questions were asked about at the time. 

Pretty sure Lady Spencer just wanted to perv at the waiter.

The Sovereign is the quintessentially British coin.  It has a German queen on the front, an Italian waiter on the back, and half of them were made in Australia.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 13/12/2022 at 09:21, KevjustKev said:

Bareback, not really there would have been a saddle of sorts, even just a towel sized bit of leather which won't be seen as such. Also saddles as we know them didn't come in until the invention of the stirrup, which in turn didn't come to the Byzantine Empire until the late 6th century 

Whose going in bareback? 😲

😁

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Cookies & terms of service

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies and to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use