Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova

Perseus, with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, depicts the Greek mythological story of Perseus beheading Medusa, a hideous woman-faced Gorgon whose hair was turned to snakes, and anyone that looked at her was turned to stone.

Perseus stands naked except for a cape hanging from his arm, sandals, and a winged hat, triumphant with Medus’s snakey head in his raised hand. This statue is a replica of Canova’s famed marble of Perseus in the Vatican, first shown in 1801.

Based on the Apollo Belvedere, which had been carried off to Paris under Napoleon, it was bought by Pope Pius VII and placed upon the pedestal where the Apollo had formerly stood. Medusa’s head is based on that of the antique Rondanini Medusa.

Perseus

Perseus in Greek mythology was the founder of Mycenae and was the great Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles.

He beheaded the Gorgon Medusa and then went on to save Andromeda from a sea monster. He was the son of Zeus and the mortal Danaë, as well as the great-grandfather of Heracles.

Perseus avoided looking at Medusa’s face and turning to stone by viewing Medusa’s reflection in his polished shield. In this way, he safely approached and cut off her head.

Medusa

Medusa was a monster, described as a winged human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Anyone who looked into her face would turn to stone. 

Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who, after that, used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to rock as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield.

Antonio Canova

Antonio Canova (1757 – 1822) was an Italian Neoclassical sculptor, famous for his marble sculptures. Canova was regarded as one of the greatest of the Neoclassical artists. The Baroque and Classical Revival inspired his artwork. 

Canova’s passion in sculptures were either Heroic compositions, compositions of Grace, or Tomb monuments.

Antonio Canova was born in the Venetian Republic. Unfortunately, his father was a stonecutter, died when Canova was three years old.

Fortunately, he was put into the care of his paternal grandfather, who was a stonemason and a sculptor who specialized in altars with statues and low reliefs.

His grandfather led Antonio into the art of sculpting. At the age of nine, Antonio Canova executed two small shrines of Carrara marble, which are still in existence. After these works, he was employed under his grandfather as a sculptor.

Antonio Canova worked in Venice, Rome, France, and England, and by 1800, Canova was the most celebrated artist in Europe.

He promoted his reputation by publishing his works’ engravings and having marble versions of plaster casts made in his workshop.

He was so successful that he had patrons from across Europe, including France, England, Russia, Poland, Austria, and Holland. In 1820, Canova made a statue of George Washington for the state of North Carolina.

Perseus with the Head of Medusa

• Title:             Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova
• Artists:          Antonio Canova
• Date:            1804–6
• Culture:        Italian, Rome
• Medium:       Marble
• Dimensions: H. 95 1/2 x W. 75 1/2 x D. 40 1/2 in. (242.6 x 191.8 x 102.9 cm)
• Museum:      Metropolitan Museum of Art – MET

Perseus with the Head of Medusa

Antonio Canova

• Name:                 Antonio Canova
• Born:                   1757 – Possagno, Republic of Venice
• Died:                   1822 (aged 64) – Venice, Lombardy–Venetia
• Nationality:         Italian
• Movement:         Neo-Classical
• Notable works:
  • Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss (Hermitage Museum)
  • Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss (Louvre)
  • The Three Graces (Hermitage Museum)
  • The Three Graces (Victoria and Albert Museum)
  • Perseus with the Head of Medusa (Metropolitan Museum of Art – MET)
  • Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix

MET Greek and Roman Art Collection

• Statue of a Kouros
• Amathus Sarcophagus
• Mycenaean Terracotta Female Figures

MET Egyptian Art Collection

• The Temple of Dendur
• The Sphinx of Hatshepsut
• William the Faience Hippopotamus

Perseus and the head of Medusa of Antonio Canova 

MET Asian Art Collection

• Luohan – Yixian Glazed Ceramic Sculpture
• Pillow with Landscape Scenes – Zhang Family Workshop
• Jar with Dragon

MET Ancient Near Eastern Art Collection

• Sumerian Standing Male Worshiper
• Head of a Beardless Royal Attendant – Eunuch
• Human-Headed Winged Bull (Lamassu)

MET European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Collection

• “Hercules the Archer” by Antoine Bourdelle
• “Orpheus and Eurydice” by Auguste Rodin
• “Perseus with the Head of Medusa” by Antonio Canova

MET Medieval Art Collection

• “The Last Supper” by Ugolino di Nerio
• Plaque with the Journey to Emmaus and Noli Me Tangere
• Doorway from the Church of San Nicolò, San Gemini

The Story of Perseus

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“Writer’s block results from too much head. Cut off your head. Pegasus, poetry, was born of Medusa when her head was cut off. You have to be reckless when writing. Be as crazy as your conscience allows.”
– Joseph Campbell

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Photo Credit: 1) Antonio Canova [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons