Perseus and Andromeda
1709
oil
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
1709
oil
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
Perseus and Andromeda is a 1709 oil by Giacomo Bolognini, a Barbizon school work, held at Ashmolean Museum.
This painting depicts a dramatic scene from Greek mythology. In the foreground, a woman named Andromeda is chained to a rock, while a sea monster emerges from the water, its mouth open wide. Above them, a man on a winged horse, Perseus, is about to attack the monster. The woman's red dress is flowing in the wind, and she appears to be looking up at Perseus with a mix of fear and hope. The sea monster is large and menacing, with sharp teeth and a long tail. The background of the painting is a dark, stormy sky, which adds to the sense of drama and tension. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark, adds depth and emotion to the painting. You can learn more about this technique and how it's used in art by exploring the technique: chiaroscuro.
