St George and the Trinacrian rebellion : art in Sicily during the later crusades

A popular crusader saint throughout Italy during the late medieval period, St George offers a window into the anxieties felt about the permeability of and dangers lurking at regional and religious borders and boundaries. An investigation of the saint's versatility over the course of the fourteenth century reveals how Christians of Sicily – who were continuously caught in a cycle of excommunication and interdict – refashioned themselves as they sought more control of the island. In particular, this essay examines paintings of St George commissioned during the Trecento in two residences of the Chiaramonte family, the Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri in Palermo and the Castello dei Chiaramonte in Favara, and analyzes the paintings within the context of domestic devotional practices and local history.