Help me find this iconic/problematic dragon + sexy lady fantasy painting
March 9, 2022 9:12 AM Subscribe
I have a strong memory of a painting that, like far too much fantasy art, features a woman wearing minimal armor and matching patriarchal beauty standards. What's unique about this painting is that there's a large red dragon curled around her, larger than she is, and their body language suggests some possible interspecies sexual tension. I thought this was Frank Frazetta's work but my Google searches haven't been able to find the painting. Help?
Yeah, Boris Vallejo basically specialised in women in soft porn poses with dragons.
posted by pipeski at 9:40 AM on March 9, 2022
posted by pipeski at 9:40 AM on March 9, 2022
Boris Vallejo does seem to be the right (NSFW) answer. Or at least an answer to the same question.
And as the people above me suggest, it's a whole category.
posted by Snijglau at 10:02 AM on March 9, 2022
And as the people above me suggest, it's a whole category.
posted by Snijglau at 10:02 AM on March 9, 2022
Saddam Hussein had an extensive collection of paintings featuring women comporting with dragons. It became a minor pop culture fascination, and may be how the style came to your attention.
His favorite artist is known simply as Rowena. I don't know if she painted what you described, but it sounds like her style.
posted by champers at 1:04 PM on March 9, 2022
His favorite artist is known simply as Rowena. I don't know if she painted what you described, but it sounds like her style.
posted by champers at 1:04 PM on March 9, 2022
What snijglau said. Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell are the king and queen of this...area. You'll find similar stuff from the Brothers Hildebrandt, too.
posted by greenland at 1:28 PM on March 9, 2022
posted by greenland at 1:28 PM on March 9, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks for these answers! Boris Vallejo definitely has multiple examples of this style of art but none of the links/galleries so far include the specific painting I'm looking for.
posted by overglow at 1:39 PM on March 9, 2022
posted by overglow at 1:39 PM on March 9, 2022
I feel like I know this image, although I also can't find it - is it a woman in a Frazetta-style chainmail bikini, lounging back upright against a red dragon that's curled around her on a left-right axis?
posted by chappell, ambrose at 2:48 AM on March 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by chappell, ambrose at 2:48 AM on March 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
My google search is now deeply cursed and I still haven't found the image I'm thinking of, but as well as Boris Vallejo / Julie Bell / Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell, in a similar style you could also try Michael Whelan, Les Edwards, or (long shot) Roger Dean.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 3:27 AM on March 10, 2022
posted by chappell, ambrose at 3:27 AM on March 10, 2022
None of these are the image I had in mind and all are NSFW (as I probably should have mentioned in my previous answer, too) but since I've trawled through and you might be thinking of a different picture, here are various Boris Vallejo images that might fit the bill:
Kiss my hand
Birth
What next
Content
The Elvenbane
Hesperides and Ladon the dragon
posted by chappell, ambrose at 3:35 AM on March 10, 2022
Kiss my hand
Birth
What next
Content
The Elvenbane
Hesperides and Ladon the dragon
posted by chappell, ambrose at 3:35 AM on March 10, 2022
I also feel like I know this image. Something like the art for the MTG card Creature Bond except in the Vallejo/Frazetta style and with a red dragon.
I've tried searching through a bunch of fantasy artists, Dragon magazine covers, and D&D illustrations and can't find it, though. Starting to wonder if it's some kind of Mandela Effect.
posted by jedicus at 7:28 AM on March 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've tried searching through a bunch of fantasy artists, Dragon magazine covers, and D&D illustrations and can't find it, though. Starting to wonder if it's some kind of Mandela Effect.
posted by jedicus at 7:28 AM on March 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've tried searching through a bunch of fantasy artists, Dragon magazine covers, and D&D illustrations and can't find it, though.
This is still bugging me and I've wondered whether it's famous for some other reason (the front cover of specific fantasy novel / RPG / metal album). So far I've checked D&D artists and Heavy Metal magazine covers with no joy.
Starting to wonder if it's some kind of Mandela Effect.
The same thought had occurred to me. Alternatively, that it could be some copyright thing? A highly litigious party scrubbing search engines of the image, like the Tolkien estate? Although they now seem to be resolved, the Frazetta estate has had some spectacular legal issues in the past, including a case that involved one of his kids breaking into a museum with a backhoe to make off with $20mm of paintings.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 8:36 AM on March 10, 2022
This is still bugging me and I've wondered whether it's famous for some other reason (the front cover of specific fantasy novel / RPG / metal album). So far I've checked D&D artists and Heavy Metal magazine covers with no joy.
Starting to wonder if it's some kind of Mandela Effect.
The same thought had occurred to me. Alternatively, that it could be some copyright thing? A highly litigious party scrubbing search engines of the image, like the Tolkien estate? Although they now seem to be resolved, the Frazetta estate has had some spectacular legal issues in the past, including a case that involved one of his kids breaking into a museum with a backhoe to make off with $20mm of paintings.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 8:36 AM on March 10, 2022
Ten more possibilities here - it's not Dragon Slayer by Jeffrey Catherine Jones, is it? Either way, her art is really amazing.
(Otherwise, the Hildebrandts dabbled in dragons and nude women, too.)
posted by chappell, ambrose at 8:52 AM on March 10, 2022
(Otherwise, the Hildebrandts dabbled in dragons and nude women, too.)
posted by chappell, ambrose at 8:52 AM on March 10, 2022
Response by poster: Yes, chappell, ambrose and jedicus, it sounds like we are thinking of/remembering the same image. At least I know I'm not alone, even if none of us can find it!
posted by overglow at 7:33 PM on March 14, 2022
posted by overglow at 7:33 PM on March 14, 2022
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posted by Greg_Ace at 9:20 AM on March 9, 2022 [7 favorites]