Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE. A magnificent fresco section from ancient Rome depicting Perseus holding Medusa's head in his right hand and the Harpe or adamantine sword given to him by Jupiter (Zeus) with which he decapitated the Gorgon in his left hand. Nude save the blood red cloak tied around his neck, Perseus stands in contrapposto presumably at the entrance of Medusa's cave (note the rocky portal and outcroppings), his muscular body teeming with strength, and looks askance with an expressive countenance of valor and victory. The artist of this piece successfully achieved naturalism in the visual imagery via subtle tonal changes, modeling with color and shading, and even foreshortening. Notice how Medusa's gruesome head - whose captivating stare was once capable of turning people to stone, but now displays a look of horror framed by the writhing serpents in her wavy coiffure - seems to project into the viewer's space. Size: 20.625" L x 19" W (52.4 cm x 48.3 cm)

Furthermore, though Perseus and the cave entrance are set close to the picture plane, the sky blue and white hues used in the background create a marvelous sense of atmospheric (aerial) perspective.

While some of the most impressive artists of the Classical world were painters, sadly, many of their creations were painted on wood panels and have disappeared due to their perishable nature. Thankfully, other forms of Classical art – vase paintings, mosaics, and even a few frescos like this example - have survived the tests of time and can provide a means of understanding ancient painting techniques.

In Greek mythology Perseus was one of the most important monster slayers prior to Herakles (Hercules). He famously beheaded the Gorgon Medusa for Polydectes. Polydectes had fallen head over heals for the ravishing Danae, Perseus' mortal mother. Perseus, however, who had very little admiration for Polydectes, vowed to protect his mother from him. So Polydectes came up with a plan to send Perseus away. He hosted a grand banquet, and each guest was asked to bring a gift. In particular he requested horses, telling the guests that he was collecting contributions in preparation for asking for Hippodamia's hand - Hippodamia was the "tamer of horses." The issue was that Perseus owned no horses. Given this, he asked Polydectes to suggest an alternative gift, and said that he would honor that request no matter what it was. The clever Polydectes demanded that Perseus bring him the head of Medusa, the only mortal Gorgon whose gaze legendarily turned humans to stone. Athena told Perseus to find the Hesperides, the nymphs tending Hera's orchard, who safeguarded weapons to defeat the Gorgon. He asked the Graeae (sisters of the Gorgons) the whereabouts of the Hesperides. As the Graeae - three elderly women who shared a single eye - passed the eye from one to the other, Perseus snatched it and said that he would not return it unless they revealed the whereabouts of the nymphs. The sisters took him to the Hesperides and he returned their eye. The Hesperides gave Perseus a knapsack in which to keep Medusa's head. Zeus gave him a Harpe or adamantine sword as well as Hade's helm of darkness in order to hide. From Hermes, Perseus received winged sandals so that he could fly. Finally, Athena provided him with a polished shield. Fully equipped, Perseus headed to Medusa's cave, finding her asleep. Able to see Medusa's reflection in his shield, Perseus managed to successfully sever Medusa's head. However, just as he did this, Pegasus and Chrysador sprang from her head and the other two Gorgons chased Perseus. Luckily, he was wearing his helm of darkness and managed to escape.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#133409

Repaired/restored from multiple pieces with some visible fissures. Most likely cleaned at one point in time. Relatively little touch up consolidation. Surface wear with some pitting, abrasions, and pigment loss commensurate with age. Set in a plaster matrix, with a wooden backing for added support.