Who painted Perseus and Andromeda?

Perseus and Andromeda was painted by Bartolommeo Gagliardo in 1590.

Where can I see Perseus and Andromeda?

Perseus and Andromeda is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Perseus and Andromeda?

Perseus and Andromeda is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Perseus and Andromeda?

Museum-quality prints of Perseus and Andromeda are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Perseus and Andromeda

Bartolommeo Gagliardo , 1590

Perseus and Andromeda is a chalk drawing by the Renaissance artist Bartolommeo Gagliardo. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk on laid paper, the work demonstrates Gagliardo's handling of line and tone.

Created in 1590 by Bartolommeo Gagliardo, this drawing depicts the mythological rescue of Andromeda by Perseus. The composition centers on the nude Andromeda, who is chained to a rock and shown in profile, gazing downward and to the right. In the background, Perseus rides the winged horse Pegasus, poised to strike the sea monster threatening the princess.

Executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk on laid paper, the work demonstrates Gagliardo's handling of line and tone. The underlying black chalk sketch remains partially visible, indicating the artist's preparatory process. This piece reflects the late Mannerist interest in complex poses and dramatic narrative scenes common in Genoese art of the period.

As a work from the early stage of Gagliardo's career, it illustrates his engagement with classical mythology and his technical proficiency in drawing, a medium he utilized extensively before his later focus on painting.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on Andromeda, rendered nude and bound to a rock, her profile turned downward and to the right, suggesting resignation or contemplation. In the distance, Perseus rides a winged horse, poised to confront the sea monster that threatens her, encapsulating the rescue motif of the legend.

Technique & Style

Gagliardo employs swift, expressive lines that convey motion, while the brown wash adds tonal depth to the figures and background. Residual black chalk marks remain visible, indicating an underlying drawing stage and revealing the artist’s process of building the image through layered media.

History & Provenance

Created at the close of the sixteenth century, the drawing reflects the period’s interest in mythological subjects rendered for private study or collection. It is attributed to Gagliardo, an Italian artist active during the Renaissance, though specific ownership records prior to its current location are not documented.