Snakes and dragons have long had an important role in Western as well as Eastern art. This talk explores the significance of these animals in pagan mythology and, later, in Christian art. What does St. George have in common with Perseus, and what can a dragon on a 300-yr-old Qing dynasty vase tell us about its owner? Presented in honor of the Chinese Year of the Dragon, by Bela Demeter, museum docent and retired herpetologist, National Zoo.
Chinese Qing Dynasty, Baluster Vase, Kangxi period, 1662/1722, porcelain with famille verte enamels on the biscuit, Widener Collection, 1942.9.606
Gallery Talk: Dragons in Art
Collection Perspectives
- Friday, April 26, 2024
- 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- West Building, Main Floor - Rotunda