St Margaret holding a palm in her raised left hand, a dragon at her right 1495 - 1505

Curator: Look at this fascinating engraving from the Italian Renaissance, created by Marcantonio Raimondi sometime between 1495 and 1505. It's titled "St Margaret holding a palm in her raised left hand, a dragon at her right," and is part of the Metropolitan Museum's collection. Editor: Ooh, my first thought? That dragon looks like he needs a nap. The composition's making me think about the odd bedfellows of faith and the beastly sides of human nature, you know? The tiny face with the long eyelashes! Ha! So cute. Curator: It's interesting that you mention the "beastly sides of human nature." Consider the legend of St. Margaret. The narrative often portrays her overcoming the dragon, symbolic of resisting temptation and evil. In many ways it mirrors a lot of female narratives. It touches upon gendered power dynamics where women, often portrayed as virtuous and resilient, conquer monstrous challenges through faith and unwavering spirit. Editor: Yeah! She totally has this quiet strength about her, right? The way she casually holds the palm while the dragon's basically napping on her skirt, it gives you the feeling she ain't even sweating it! This would make an awesome t-shirt graphic, for a band. Maybe call them 'The Dragon Slayers.' Curator: Setting aside your rock-n-roll aspirations for a second, consider the context of its creation, as there's much debate as to the intended function of engravings like this at that time. There's also something here of the historical tension of prints making accessible stories from religion in new and exciting ways, giving audiences visual experiences of virtue, resilience, and divine protection. Editor: You know, looking at it more, it’s cool to think about how something so meticulously made could be multiplied. It’s kind of like a sixteenth-century meme, in a way, right? St. Margaret's 'no big deal' dragon-slaying suddenly becomes shareable. Maybe her "secret" for strength will spread! Curator: Well said. It's fascinating how this image encapsulates a whole world of societal, religious, and artistic discourse, prompting reflection even centuries later. Editor: Yeah, and, you know, gives one a hankering to slay one’s own dragons. And maybe start a band.