Apollo Sauroctonos c. 19th century

Curator: Let’s discuss this rendering of Apollo Sauroctonos, presently at the Harvard Art Museums, by Henri-Guillaume Chatillon. Editor: It’s strikingly poised, almost self-assured, yet there’s a vulnerability in the figure's youth. The lizard adds an immediate layer of narrative tension. Curator: Absolutely, the lizard is key to understanding. Depicting Apollo as a boy killing a lizard had specific appeal to the upper-class societal values of the time—strength, youthful vigor, the conquering of nature... Editor: It is not just about nature, though; lizards have a complex history. The lizard is sometimes seen as a symbol of resurrection and renewal, also of trickery and stealth. Here, it feels like Apollo is facing more than just a simple pest. Curator: The dissemination of such imagery definitely served to reinforce a social order. Editor: Yes, and the persistent symbolism reminds us how the past is always present, shaping how we see, and what we choose to value.