A Landscape with the Story of Cadmus Killing the Dragon Possibly 1765

Editor: This is Francesco Zuccarelli’s, *A Landscape with the Story of Cadmus Killing the Dragon*, located at Tate Britain. It depicts a scene of conflict within a vibrant landscape. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: It's interesting to consider this landscape as a site of power struggle. Cadmus's act isn't just heroic; it's a claim of dominance over the natural world. How does the dragon figure into the colonial narrative? Editor: Colonial narrative? I hadn't considered that. Curator: Think about it. Dragons are often symbols of indigenous power, guarding territory. Cadmus's victory could be seen as a symbolic displacement, laying claim to the land. Does seeing it that way change your perception? Editor: It definitely adds a layer of complexity that I hadn't initially recognized. Thanks for the insight! Curator: Absolutely! It's about questioning whose stories get told and whose are silenced within these idyllic landscapes.