The Masks of Medusa

Mar 12, 2007

We had Sartorio’s Gorgon and the Heroes yesterday so here’s some Medusas to continue the theme. Art history, especially in the nineteenth century, is full of Medusa portraits; these are some of the better ones.

Medusa by Caravaggio (1598-1599).

Head of Medusa by Peter Paul Rubens (1617).

Medusa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (c. 1650).

Medusa by Frederick Sandys.

Meduse by George Frederick Watts.

Pendant with the Head of Medusa by Alfred André (1885/1890).

Medusa (The Furious Wave) by Lucien Levy-Dhurmer (1897).

Medusa by Philippe Wolfers (1898).

Medusa by Vincenzo Gemito (1911).

Previously on { feuilleton }
• The art of Giulio Artistide Sartorio, 1860–1932

4 comments or trackbacks

#1 posted by Eroom Nala

Mar 12th, 2007

How about Cellini’s famous statue:

http://jssgallery.org/Other_Artists/Benvenuto_Cellini/Photo_Cellni_bronze_statue_Perseus_beheading_Medusa.htm

Used for the front cover of a very old paperback of Edith Hamilton’s Mythology book with the sword conveniently covering up his naughty bits.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology_(book)

Not quite this one from the copy I remember but similar

http://i.biblio.com/b/667m/43659667-0-m.jpg
#2 posted by John

Mar 12th, 2007

A great sculpture. I thought of that one, and Canova’s famous Perseus also, but decided to stick with Medusa’s head.
#3 posted by Wiley

Mar 19th, 2007

Always a favorite creature. I’d always drawn her with the hair dredding up, then turning to snakes and such, and never seen anyone else do that. Don’t you just hate to have your bubble bursted. They are cool though. Rubens is the best, in my opinion.
#4 posted by Márcio Salerno

Mar 14th, 2008

JOHN

The one who impressed me more was Wolfer’s. I did a Medusa head in one ofmy comics. I like the symbology of it.