Perseus with the Head of Medusa is a bronze sculpture by Benvenuto
Cellini, created c 1550. Perseus has managed to behead the hideous
gorgon Medusa, the sight of which would turn you to stone. This will not
happen to observers of this fine statue.
Bronze had almost fallen out use by this point, and it
was quite daring of Cellini to revive the technique. To ensure his name
would not be forgotten, a self-portrait was included on the rear of
Perseus’s helmet.
The sculpture is mounted on a grand pedestal, though it isn’t
clear whether this was Cellini’s original intention. It features four
statues; Danae, mother of Perseus, and the gods Jupiter, Minerva and
Mercury, to give them their Roman names. The ones there now are
replicas: the originals are in the Bargello. There is also a bronze
relief showing Perseus rescuing Andromeda.
Mercury
Minerva
Danae
Jupiter
Perseus rescuing Andromeda
The Rape of the Sabine Women is considered to by Giambologna’s finest
work; It was carved from a single block of marble. Once again, the word
rape has to be considered with caution. It comes from the latin word
‘raptio’ meaning kidnap. The theme comes from a Roman legend of the mass
abduction of young women from surrounding towns.
There are three figures; a
man lifts the woman, while another man crouches underneath. There is a
bronze relief on the pedestal showing more abduction scenes.
