How did Caravaggio paint Medusa?
When he painted Medusa on a convex shield, he used a convex mirror to paint his own face. If you look carefully, you may notice that the forehead and cheeks of Medusa are somewhat bigger than expected.
What is the true story of Medusa?
The snake-haired Medusa does not become widespread until the first century B.C. The Roman author Ovid describes the mortal Medusa as a beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena. Such a sacrilege attracted the goddess’ wrath, and she punished Medusa by turning her hair to snakes.
Who painted the Medusa Shield?
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
Artist: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) was known in late 16th-century Rome for the naturalism and lifelike freshness of his painting.
What happened to Medusa’s head?
The severed head, which had the power of turning into stone all who looked upon it, was given to Athena, who placed it in her shield; according to another account, Perseus buried it in the marketplace of Argos.
Why did Caravaggio paint himself as Medusa?
For its subject matter, Caravaggio drew on the myth of Medusa. Perseus, son of Greek god Zeus and princess Danae, decapitated Medusa using a shield given by Athena. In his painting, Caravaggio depicts a self-portrait of his own face in the place of Medusa’s, as a way of indicating his immunity to her dreadful gaze.
What happens when Medusa died?
Medusa was beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus, who then used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield.
How big is the Medusa painting by Caravaggio?
It measures 48 by 55 cm and is signed Michel A F (Latin: Michel Angelo Fecit), “Michel Angelo made [this]”, Michelangelo being Caravaggio’s first name. This work is privately owned. The second version, shown here, is slightly bigger (60×55 cm) and is not signed though often dated 1597.
Who is safe from Medusa’s gaze Caravaggio?
Caravaggio plays with this concept by modeling himself for Medusa’s face – making him the only one who is safe from Medusa’s dedly gaze – and having to look at his reflection to paint the shield in the same way that Medusa caught her own image moments before being killed. Although Caravaggio depicts Medusa’s severed head, she remains conscious.
What was Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio known for?
Artist: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) was known in late 16th-century Rome for the naturalism and lifelike freshness of his painting. The compelling reality of Caravaggio’s painting, however, does not make him a “realist”.
