Pelasgus Civilizes the Greeks 1790 - 1800

Edward Francis Burney made this pen and gray ink drawing titled "Pelasgus Civilizes the Greeks" in the late 18th or early 19th century. Burney invokes a foundational myth in which the legendary Pelasgus introduces architecture and settled life to the nomadic early Greeks. The image is a window into the complex cultural politics of Burney’s England, which saw itself as heir to ancient Greece and Rome. Pelasgus, presented as a heroic, near-divine figure, embodies British imperial ambition. The drawing’s narrative suggests a justification for colonial expansion: the bringing of civilization to those deemed less advanced. Burney's work prompts us to examine the power dynamics inherent in historical narratives and to consider whose perspectives are privileged in the construction of national and cultural identity. Art historians can draw on sources from literature, political theory, and postcolonial studies to unpack these layers of meaning and to understand the drawing not just as an aesthetic object, but as a cultural artifact deeply embedded in its time.