Perseus with the Head of Medusa- base relief, Image depicts the relief found at the base of Perseus with the Head of Medusa which shows Perseus defeating the sea monster sent by Poseidon to kill Andromeda. According to the mythology, Andromeda's mother, Cassiopeia boasted that her daughter was more beautiful than the Nereids, the daughters of Poseidon. In revenge for this act, Poseidon demanded that Andromeda be bound naked to a rock and consumed by his sea monster. However, Perseus on his way back from defeating Medusa, stumbles upon the scene and saves Andromeda. This relief shows the monster emerging out of the sea, Andromeda bound and Perseus arriving by air to rescue her. Behind the trio, her parents King Cepheus and Cassiopeia lament her punishment along with other citizens., circa 1554

Item — Box: 302

Identifier: spc-mss0088-s46-i0337

Perseus with the Head of Medusa- base relief, Image depicts the relief found at the base of Perseus with the Head of Medusa which shows Perseus defeating the sea monster sent by Poseidon to kill Andromeda. According to the mythology, Andromeda's mother, Cassiopeia boasted that her daughter was more beautiful than the Nereids, the daughters of Poseidon. In revenge for this act, Poseidon demanded that Andromeda be bound naked to a rock and consumed by his sea monster. However, Perseus on his way back from defeating Medusa, stumbles upon the scene and saves Andromeda. This relief shows the monster emerging out of the sea, Andromeda bound and Perseus arriving by air to rescue her. Behind the trio, her parents King Cepheus and Cassiopeia lament her punishment along with other citizens.

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Scope and Contents

Vanderbilt photo identifier: SC.MSS.088.SCUL.0315; Public Notes:

Dates

Creation: circa 1554

Creator

Benvenuto Cellini (alternatively: Benvenuto di Maestro Giovanni Cellini Fiorentino) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection may be viewed only in the reading room of Special Collections in the Jean and Alexander Heard Library. Collections should be requested 2-3 days prior to visiting in order to facilitate easier access. For questions or to request a collection, contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Subjects: Sculpture; Bronze Statues; Greco-Roman Mythology; Andromeda; Perseus; Medusa; School: Florence; Style period: Mannerism; Technique: sculpting; Work type: sculpture

Full Extent

1 Items : Image Work Type: photographic print ; Image height (in.): 7.4; Image width (in.): 9.7in.

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Physical Description

Medium: bronze; Physical condition: good; Print type: black and white; Support:

General

Part of master image additional image: SC.MSS.088.SCUL.0311 and SC.MSS.088.SCUL.0312; Artist Nationality: Italian; Artist Status: confirmed; Inscription translation text type: