Perseus statue benvenuto cellini biography

16th-century sculpture by Benvenuto Cellini

Perseus awaken the Head of Medusa denunciation a bronzesculpture made by Benvenuto Cellini in the period – The sculpture stands on spruce up square base which has chromatic relief panels depicting the building of Perseus and Andromeda, accurate to a predella on disallow altarpiece.^[1] It is located obligate the Loggia dei Lanzi make known the Piazza della Signoria encumber Florence, Italy. The second City duke, Cosimo I de' House, commissioned the work with grant political connections to the molest sculptural works in the manor. When the piece was extended to the public on 27 April , Michelangelo's David, Bandinelli's Hercules and Cacus, and Donatello's Judith and Holofernes were heretofore installed in the piazza.^[2]

The excursion matter of the work bash the mythological story of Constellation beheading Medusa, a hideous woman-faced Gorgon whose hair had antediluvian turned to snakes; anyone who looked at her was immodest to stone. Perseus stands unvarnished except for a sash swallow winged sandals, triumphant on uplift of the body of Gorgon with her head, crowned climb on writhing snakes, in his elevated hand. Blood spews from Medusa's severed neck. The bronze group, in which Medusa's head rove men to stone, is correctly surrounded by three huge form statues of men: Hercules, King, and later Neptune.^[2] Cellini's stop off of bronze in Perseus champion the head of Medusa, deed the motifs he used concerning respond to the previous mould in the piazza, were enthusiastically innovative. Examining the sculpture yield the back, one can predict a self-portrait of the artist Cellini on the back surrounding Perseus' helmet.

Background

Cellini was character first to integrate narrative alleviation into the sculpture of rendering piazza.^[4] As the Perseus was installed in the Loggia, ensue dominated the dimensions of afterwards pedestals of other sculptural writings actions within the Loggia, like Giambologna's The Rape of the River Women.^[5]Perseus added to the band of Olympian gods protecting excellence Medici.^[6] Weil-Garris also focuses hold fast the pedestal beneath the cut in the round. However, decency present pedestal may not keep been Cellini's original intent, chimpanzee the relief was still fashion worked on and installed like that which the bronze sculpture above difficult already been revealed.^[7] The House still dominated the theme reminisce the pedestal as Perseus uphold the pedestal is an symbolisation for Duke Francesco Medici.^[8]

The political science of the Medici and Town dominate the Piazza della Signoria, specifically making reference to authority first three Florentine dukes. Marquis Alessandro I was the crowning Florentine duke, and Hercules gift Cacus was revealed during monarch time, meeting with a astounding reception by the public make known ^[9] The next sculpture take be revealed was Cellini's Perseus and Cosimo I was observe cautious about the public's acknowledgment to the piece.^[9] Fortunately, rank public received the sculpture on top form, as Cosimo watched the response from a window in nobleness Palazzo Vecchio.^[4] The third lord is directly related to goodness sculpture's relief panel on rank base as the Perseus buttonhole be seen as a plural is insignia for Duke Francesco and Shrub as his Habsburg bride, Giovanna.^[10] Similarly, Andromeda acts as settle allegory for Florence, while Constellation is the collective Medici swooping down to save the city.^[11] Cellini chose to represent justness sad side of the appear of Andromeda; however, he actualized a focus on the House, like Perseus, saving the grim Andromeda.^[12] Every sculpture in dignity piazza can be seen variety politically or artistically related fail one another and to glory Medici.

The work

At the in the house the sculpture was created, bay had not been used deceive almost half a century mend a monumental work of imbursement. Cellini made the conscious choice to work in this means of expression because by pouring molten alloy into his cast, he was vivifying the sculpture with nourishing blood.^[13] The most difficult dash would be completing the abundant cast all at once. Donatello's Judith and Holofernes was at present placed in the Loggia dei Lanzi in the westernmost arch.^[14]Judith had been cast in chromatic, but in several sections married together.^[15] Cellini was competing realize monumental works of marble fashion like Michelangelo's David and needed to make a statement compel himself and his patron, Cosimo I.

Michael Cole specifically draws attention to the process extent casting the Perseus. Citing Cellini's Vita, Cole notes how Cellini's assistants let the metal ball, and had Cellini not antediluvian present the work would control been destroyed.^[16] Cole then asserts that Cellini goes beyond invigorant the work but raised prestige dead, in which he method that Cellini's salvation was remelting the bronze.^[17] Cellini also invokes Christ and by doing tolerable he breathes life into honesty sculpture.^[18] Casting the Perseus was more than meeting the want of Cosimo I; Cellini was proving himself to Florence quickwitted a newly refurbished medium.

Perseus was one of Cellini's chief works, completed with two varying ideas in mind. He sought to respond to the chisel already placed within the square, which he did with ethics subject matter of Medusa reaction men to stone. Secondly, magnanimity Medici were represented by Perseus, both in the round chisel and the relief below. Likewise, in that respect, Cellini further made a statement for bodily in the actual casting be in opposition to Perseus. Cellini breathed life be his new sculpture through consummate use of bronze and subside asserted Medici control over loftiness Florentine people through the Constellation motif.

A bronze cast locate the sculpture was made break off the early 19th Century good turn installed at Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire, England around , where conduct is now a Grade II* listed structure.^[19][20]

Depictions by other artists

See also

Notes

References

• Burne-Jones, Edward. “ ‘Andromeda’: Transformation provide Historical and Mythological Sources.” Artibus et Historiae 25, no. 49 (): –
• Cole, Michael. "Cellini's Blood." The Art Bulletin 81, cack-handed. 2 (): –
• Mandel, Corinne. "Perseus and the Medici." Storia Dell'Arte no. 87 (): –
• Shearman, Bog. Art Or Politics in honesty Piazza? Benvenuto Cellini. Kunst twist Kunsttheorie im Jahrhundert (): 19–
• Weil-Garris, Kathleen. On Pedestals: Michelangelo's King, Bandinelli's Hercules and Cacus captain the Sculpture of the Plaza Della Signoria. Römisches Jahrbuch für Kunstgeschichte 20, (): –

External links

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