Caravaggio's Head of Madusa was made in 1596. It is oil on wood. there are two version of this painting the first one is titled Martula after the poet who wrote about it, and is signed. the second however, he was commissioned to paint this for the duke of Tuscany. Painted oil on canvas and stretched over a shield.
Though there is not much to the composition to talk about. the forms of the snakes on her head is very elegant and snake like. how the snakes interact with each other is very believable I like the snakes that are biting each other. The textures o the scales is so precise especially on the belly scales. but what really caught my attion was the look in her eyes. take everything else away and those eyes still read fear. The absolute fear of , "oh my god my head got chopped off," is shown so well in her eyes and face.
Because my picture does little justice to this here is the link to google art project. link
Such a unique find! I think you are right about the expression. Covered up the entire piece with the exception of the eyes and it is either fear or surprise. Thanks for the link to the art project - such a difference!
ReplyDeleteI find this piece empowering. The raw emotion in Medusa's face is mind blowing. It gives the feeling that her head still has some life to it, like this piece was done at the exact moment of her decapitation. That's just...Wow!
ReplyDeleteCaravaggio's choice to paint on canvas and then apply to a wooden shield refers back to the mythological reference of Athena's shield. According to a version of myth Medusa was very beautiful and vain. She then either by force or by choice had relations with Poseidon at Athena's temple. Athena then turned Medusa's hair into living snakes and would keep all other men from looking at her because her gaze would turn them into stone. Perseus then defeated Medusa using a mirror and cut off her head. He presented this to Athena and she then put it on her shield. This now is how Medusa's head is a symbol of strength, courage, and military strength. I find that Caravaggio's choice of expression would be relevant to the moment between life and death right when her head was removed. I find it interesting how he choose to represent her in more of a masculine face versus feminine. His ability to show form and texture is amazing.
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