Warrior Fighting a Dragon
Unknown Artist
c. 1170–1180
Medium
gilded copper, champlevé enamel
Dimensions
h. 6.5 cm, d. 0.3 cm
Classification
Enamel
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1951.546
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This gilded copper medallion features an enameled representation of a youthful warrior fighting a winged dragon. As no inscription accompanies the scene, the young hero’s identity remains unknown. It may depict the Arthurian hero Tristan fighting the dragon of Ireland--an epic poem titled Tristan gained popularity at the Plantagenet court of Henry II in England shortly before the medallion was created.