Where Be Dragons?

January 29, 2022 7:41 AM

I love dragons. I'm redecorating my home office, and thought to search for a fine art print featuring dragons. Unfortunately, much of what's available depicts dragons as ugly stand-ins for Satan and is heavily influenced by Christianity.

What I am looking for is something more inspired by fictional dragons like Temeraire, or the sea dragons from The Priory of the Orange Tree...but I would like something historical, rather than contemporary fantasy art. My ideal wall art would combine a medievalist or Renaissance vibe with a dragon-positive point of view, if that makes sense. I don't want pictures of St. George stabbing a lizard chicken or dragons eating people. Looking to acquire a reasonably-priced print that I can frame, rather than original work of art...but if you know someone currently making incredible dragon paintings or something I'd love to know about them. Art historians of MetaFilter: does what I'm searching for exist?

posted by little mouth to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

Would you take a Chinese dragon art print?
posted by kschang at 7:52 AM on January 29, 2022 [6 favorites]

I like Chris Riddell and was able to buy an original dragon drawing for not too much a few years back, but he doesn’t seem to be doing commissions now.
posted by Phanx at 8:25 AM on January 29, 2022

Best answer: Not as quite historical as you asked, but Anton Seder prints come to mind, although sourcing might be difficult.

For some reason, a lot of the depictions of St. Margaret of Antioch include her dragons but don't show her slaying them, but I'm not sure what's available in a print format. Medieval bestiary prints might be another search term to look up. Good luck!
posted by warriorqueen at 8:30 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]

This is a contemporary etching, but it definitely has a classical feel. It’s a signed and numbered edition, so a little more special than a poster print and still reasonably priced.
posted by rabbitbookworm at 8:37 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

I had a quick look at Etsy and there seems to be quite a range of styles, but this artist has gone for a more medieval approach.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 8:39 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

I don't have a specific artist or piece of art to recommend but check out Magic the Gathering artists. They often have prints available and there's tons of dragons.
posted by coldbabyshrimp at 9:24 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

One thing you can do if there's a specific book cover that you like the feel of, you can usually dig up the artist's name and see if they sell prints. The new Temeraire covers are by Rovina Cai, and while she's not selling prints of those specifically, I think this is fucking gorgeous.
posted by restless_nomad at 9:37 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: @warriorqueen, I was unfamiliar with Anton Seder! I also have a deep love of Art Nouveau (and have an Alphonse Mucha print featured elsewhere in my house), and found a set of three Seder prints on Etsy. Thank you from the bottom of my dragon-loving heart.
posted by little mouth at 9:51 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]

Woah, Anton Seder is blowing my mind. Thanks, little mouth, for asking this question, and thanks, warriorqueen, for introducing me to this artist!
posted by BrashTech at 11:05 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]

We have a few of the Deyrolle cryptozoological posters. There are a few dragon ones in there, it appears.
posted by true at 2:06 PM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

Direct Etsy shop link for the above.
posted by true at 2:07 PM on January 29, 2022

Look thru some Ghibli archives. Miyazaki has a beautiful depiction of this folkloric figure :)
posted by firstdaffodils at 2:43 PM on January 29, 2022