Artwork
Medusa
Medusa is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Caravaggio. It dates from 1599 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Medusa is an oil painting by Caravaggio, existing in two versions from 1596 and circa 1597. It depicts the beheading of Medusa from Greek mythology.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a close-up of Medusa's screaming face, with snakes entwined in her hair, conveying a sense of pain and tension. The work is also interpreted as a self-portrait of the artist.
Technique & Style
The painting features a striking use of chiaroscuro, with strong contrasts between light and dark, and a detailed rendering of the snakes' scales and coils. The dark green background with red streaks and decorative border add to the overall dramatic effect.
History & Provenance
Commissioned by Francesco Maria del Monte, the painting was intended as a gift for Ferdinando I de' Medici. It is now housed in the Uffizi Museum in Florence, unsigned.
Artist & collection
Artist
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (also Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi da Caravaggio; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life.
