Medusa
Mixed media on canvas
53x71
Canvas painted by the artist, inspired on the story of Perseus. This figure of Greek mythology was ordered by Polydectes, king of Seriphos, to decapitate Medusa and bring him her head, which he intended to give as a gift to Oenomaus, king of Pisa, in order to marry his daughter Hippodamia. To achieve this goal, the heroic Perseus sought the magic of certain African nymphs who generously gave him several magical items: a knapsack, a pair of winged sandals, a polished bronze shield (to neutralise the petrifying gaze of Medusa’s sisters with its reflection) and a helmet which made the wearer invisible. When Perseus beheaded Medusa, using a scythe with a diamond blade given to him by Hermes, Pegasus and Chrysaor were born from the stump of Medusa’s severed neck.
Perseus picked up Medusa’s severed head and placed it in the knapsack given to him by the nymphs in order to keep it fully covered, as her evil power was so great that the eyes would turn to stone anyone who saw them, even after her death.