GENTZ, WILHELM, born at Neu-Ruppin, Dec. 9, 1822. History and genre painter, pupil in Berlin of Klöber, then in 1845 of the Antwerp Academy, and in 1846-52 in Paris under Gleyre and Couture; travelled in the East and throughout Europe. Member of and professor at Berlin Academy. Great gold medal in Berlin (1876), medals in Vienna (1873) and Munich (1876). Works: Christ and Magdalen at Simeon's, Prodigal Son, Christ among the Pharisees and Publicans, Chemnitz Museum; Transportation of Slaves through the Desert, Halt of Caravan, Stettin Museum; Camp of Mecca Caravan, Bedouin Camp, Giving Alms in Cairo, Prayer of Mecca Caravan, Meeting of Two Caravans (1860-70); Nile Landscape, Story-Teller at Cairo, Funeral near Cairo (Dresden Gallery), Village School in Upper Egypt, Snake Charmer, Coffee-House in Cairo, Fellah-Houses in Cairo (1870-72); Entry of German Crown Prince into Jerusalem in 1869 (1876), National Gallery, Berlin; Grave of Rabbi in Algiers, Leipsic Museum; Idyl in Thebaid (1883); Evening on the Nile (1884).—Brockhaus, vii. 785; Illustr. Zeitg., Mar. 16, 1861; (1873), ii. 123; (1877), i. 221; Rosenberg, Berl. Malersch., 219.
GEOFFROY, JEAN, born at Marennes
(Charente-Inférieure); contemporary. Genre
and portrait painter, pupil of Levasseur,
Adan, and Bin. Medal, 3d class, 1883.
Works: First Lessons (1878); Abandoned,
Unwarranted Resemblance (1879); Resigned
Victim, A Future Scholar, Stirrup-Cup, Great
Culprit (1880); Little Class, Quarter of an
Hour of Rabelais (1881); Afternoon Luncheon,
In Quarantine (1882); Hour of Return,
The Unfortunate (1883); Basket-Maker,
Sewing Lesson (1884); Review of Scholar
Battalions, Washstand (1885).
GEORGE-MAYER, AUGUST, born
March 28, 1834. Portrait painter, pupil of
Vienna Academy under Rahl, studied then
for some years in Hungary; one of the best
portrait painters of Vienna. Medal in 1873.
Works: Effect of Wine (1853); Richard III.
(1857); portraits of the actors Wild, Staudigl,
Löwe, Beckmann, Findeisen, Damböck,
of the painter Angeli, of Professor Rokitansky,
of Count Hoyos, Minister Lasser,
Archduke Louis Victor.—Müller, 201.
GEORGE, ST., AND THE DRAGON.
St. George of Cappadocia, the patron saint
of England, was, according to the legend, a
tribune in the army in the time of Diocletian.
When on the way to join his legion,
he overcame a terrible dragon, near Selene,
in Libya (or Berytus, Syria, according to
another account), and rescued the king's
daughter, Cleodolinda, who was about to
be sacrificed to appease the beast. St.
George suffered martyrdom in the persecution
of Diocletian. The combat with the
dragon has been illustrated by nearly all
the great painters.
By Marco Basaiti, S. Pietro di Castello, Venice; canvas, figures half life-size; signed, dated 1520. St. George on horseback, fighting dragon; Princess Cleodolinda in background holding on to a tree. Close imitation of Carpaccio. Painted by order of Patriarch Antonio II., Contarini (1508-24).—Zanotto, Pinac. Ven., Pl. 17; C. & C., N. Italy, i. 270.
By Andrea Mantegna, Venice Academy; wood, tempera, H. 2 ft. × 1 ft. St. George, in armour, holding the stump of his lance, with the dragon at his feet. Painted about 1464. Formerly in Palazzo Manfrini.—C. & C., N. Italy, i. 387; Burckhardt, 578.
By G. A. Pordenone, Quirinal, Rome; wood, arched, H. 9 ft. × 6 ft. 2 in.; signed. The saint, on horseback, tilts at dragon with his lance; background, a landscape with Cleodolinda kneeling. Formerly in church at Noale, near Treviso.—C. & C., N. Italy, ii. 287.
By Raphael, Hermitage, St. Petersburg; wood, transferred to canvas, H. 10-3/4 × 8-3/8 in. St. George in armour, on a white horse, charges out of the foreground and transfixes the dragon with his lance; background, a wilderness with a cave to the right, and Cleodolinda kneeling in prayer; behind her
