“His whole high, broad form, seemed made of solid bronze, and ...

Benvenuto Cellini ( – ) was an Italian sculptor and a key figure in the period of European art known as Mannerism, characterized by elongated proportions and partially described as anticlassical, despite the fact that the artistic subjects of this period were usually Greek, Roman, or biblical in nature. One of Cellini’s and Mannerism’s most notable pieces is the bronze-cast statue Perseus with the Head of Medusa from . In Greek mythology, Perseus was the son of Zeus and the imprisoned mortal Danaë, whose father locked her in a tower of bronze (how fitting!) after an oracle told him that his daughter’s son (not yet conceived, but Perseus) would kill him. Later Perseus was sent on a quest by a man who wanted him dead to retrieve the head of Medusa, the Gorgon, who turns men into stone with her gaze. With the help of the gods, Perseus took down the beast.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit XIANGTAI.

Both the statue and the character of Perseus bear commonalities with the hardened Captain Ahab. After slaying Medusa, Perseus takes on the task of slaying a sea monster; he uses the head of Medusa to turn the monster to stone, which act parallels Ahab’s quest to slay the monster of seas, Moby Dick. Indeed, in Ishmael’s view the sea monster slayed by Perseus is none other than a whale, and in Chapter 82 of Moby-Dick, “The Honor and Glory in Whaling,” he alludes to Perseus again, this time as “the first whaleman,” ignoring the use of Medusa’s head altogether and describing the demigod as having speared Leviathan and killed it in one shot, saving the daughter of a king tied to the rocks on the sea-coast. Previously, in Chapter 28, “Ahab,” Ishmael describes the captain by comparing his commanding stature on deck of the Pequod to that of “Cellini’s cast Perseus,” particularly noted as “bronze,” “solid,” and “unalterable.” Being a sailor, Ahab’s skin would naturally be tanned, or “bronzed” if you will—additionally, his past experience with the great white whale has hardened him.

Standing in the Loggia dei Lanzi of the famous Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy, ‘Perseus with the Head of Medusa’ is one of sculptor Benvenuto Cellini’s most famous works. It depicts the dark and foreboding bronze of the Greek hero Perseus holding up the severed and bloody head of the gorgon Medusa, which gazes at the other statues around it as if she has turned them to stone.

Commissioned by Duke Cosimo I de Medici and unveiled in , it is one of the most significant examples of Italian Mannerist sculpture in existence and is rich in symbolism. However, since it is located near other Renaissance masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s David, Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus and Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes, it is often overlooked.

Nonetheless, it is still recognised by many as a masterpiece. Charlie Chaplin once remarked, “one night, with the square all lit up, I was drawn to the David by Michelangelo. But as soon as I saw Perseus, everything else faded away. I was charmed by the extraordinary balance in his magnificent proportions.”

Here’s the history of Cellini’s masterpiece.

Who sculpted Perseus with the Head of Medusa?

Benvenuto Cellini, who sculpted Perseus with the Head of Medusa, boasts a reputation as a troubled genius. He had many brushes with the law in his lifetime and has been variously described as vain and wild.

Born in Florence in , Cellini was banished aged 16 for taking part in an affray (public fighting). In , he was accused by a woman of having committed sodomy with her son. He subsequently fled to Venice. In total, he was accused of sodomy once with a woman and at least three times with men during his lifetime, and was once sentenced to pay 12 staia of flour.

He also confesses to three murders in The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini, stating that he stabbed his brother’s murderer to death, killed a rival goldsmith and shot an innkeeper dead.

His life was as notable as his sculptures: one critic wrote, “other goldsmiths have done finer work, but Benvenuto Cellini is the author of the most delightful autobiography ever written.”

The company is the world’s best Bronze Perseus figure statue supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Where is Perseus with the Head of Medusa located?

Benvenuto Cellini sculpted Perseus with the Head of Medusa between and . It was commissioned by the Duke of Florence Cosimo I, who was a significant patron and advocate for the arts, learning and philosophy.

The statue was placed in the city’s central Piazza della Signoria, under the Loggia dei Lanzi, which was and continues to be a centre of political focus in the city. The location was and still is home to other statues, all politically or artistically related to each other and the Medici.

What does Perseus with the Head of Medusa symbolise?

The beheaded Medusa underneath Perseus’ feet represents the Republic that the Medici faction overthrew in under Cosimo, while the snakes coming out of the gorgon’s body symbolise the disagreements in the city which threatened democracy.

Most symbolic is Perseus himself, who, a domineering figure, celebrates the control of the Medici over the Florentine people entirely.

The sculpture’s relief panel also pays tribute to other Medici family members. Perseus on the relief represents Duke Francesco while Andromeda represents his Hapsburg wife, Giovanna. Similarly, Andromeda is an allegory for Florence, while Perseus represents the Medici dynasty swooping down to save the city.

Moreover, Perseus with the Head of Medusa is surrounded by three huge marble statues of Hercules, David and later Neptune. Cellini breathes further life into his creation by suggesting that his mighty Medusa turned the other sculptors’ creations to stone. Finally, as a nod to the creator, Cellini depicts himself in a self-portrait on the back of Perseus’ helmet.

How was Perseus with the Head of Medusa made?

At the time Cellini’s sculpture was created, bronze had not been used for a monumental work of art for almost half a century. Cellini was keen to be regarded as highly as other famous Renaissance sculptors such as Michelangelo, so decided to complete the entire cast all at once, rather than in separate parts.

The story goes that as the bronze was being cast in Cellini’s workshop, the incapacitated sculptor lay dying on his sickbed. A storm broke at night, and his assistants failed to notice that the metal was beginning to clot as it cooled. Cellini jumped from his bed and ordered that everything be thrown into the fire to raise the heat. It worked, and the sculpture was saved.

Cellini likened this revival to raising the dead, both because he saved a great work of art but also because he himself was raised from his deathbed.

Once the sculpture was cooled, a long polishing process which started in was required. It was finally completed in and then presented in the square to great acclaim.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of custom bronze dog statue. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.