Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 19: Neoclassicism - Detail of Perseus with the Head of Medusa (circa 1800)

by Antonio Canova

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Neoclassical artist Antonio Canova sculpted 'Perseus with the Head of Medusa' out of marble circa 1800. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon monster with snakes for hair, sharp fangs, and wings. Those who looked upon her face turned to stone. Medusa had two immortal Gorgon sisters, but unfortunately for Medusa, she was mortal. Perseus was a mythological Greek demigod who slayed many monsters, including Medusa. After beheading Medusa, Perseus cleverly kept her head to turn his enemies into stone. In the sculpture, in addition to wielding Medusa's head, Perseus wears Pluto's Cap of Invisibility, which rendered him invisible.

Vocabulary

Perseus: The mythological Greek warrior who beheaded the Gorgon Medusa.
Medusa: A vicious female monster from Greek mythology with sharp fangs and hair of living, venomous snakes.
Marble: A rock of crystalline limestone.
Gorgon: A vicious female monster from Greek mythology with sharp fangs and hair of living, venomous snakes. One of the three sisters: Medusa, Stheno and Euryale.
Demigod: A half-god or hero; the offspring of a deity and a mortal.
Mortal: Susceptible to death by aging, sickness, injury, or wounds.
Immortal: Not susceptible to death, living forever, and never dying.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Neoclassical
2. Timeline - 1700s-1800s

Neoclassical Movement Characteristics:

1. Inspired by Antiquity ('The Death of Socrates' [4] by Jacques-Louis David in 1787)

2. Simplicity - Line Drawings and Prints ('Scene in Homer's Iliad' by John Flaxman in 1795)

Neoclassical Movement Subjects:

1. Fiction ('King Lear in the Storm' by Benjamin West in 1788)

2. Greek and Roman Mythology ('The Fight Between Mars and Minerva' by Jacques Louis David in 1771)

3. History Painting ('The Death of General Wolfe' by Benjamin West in 1770 [5])

Neoclassical Architecture:

1. Colonnades - Series of Columns (The Madeleine Church in Paris, France, completed in 1828)

2. Porticos - Small Spaces with Roofs Supported by Columns (Portico of the U.S. White House, built starting in 1792)

3. Capital - Uppermost Part of Column (Capital with bundled corn stalks installed in the U.S. Capitol Building in 1809)

4. Friezes (Academy of Athens in Athens, Greece, designed in 1859)

5. Flat Roofs and Straight Lines (Altes Museum in Berlin, Germany built between 1823 and 1830)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Perseus
• Medusa
• Cap of Invisibility
• Snakes
• Someone Decapitated
• Someone Invisible
• Gorgon
• Demigod

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Read an Excerpt from 'The Classic Myths in English Literature and in Art' by Charles Mills Gayley

When Perseus was grown up, Polydectes sent him to attempt the conquest of the Gorgon Medusa, a terrible monster who had laid waste the country. She had once been a maiden whose hair was her chief glory, but as she dared to vie in beauty with Minerva, the goddess deprived her of her charms and changed her ringlets into hissing serpents. She became a monster of so frightful an aspect that no living thing could behold her without being turned into stone. All around the cavern where she dwelt might be seen the stony figures of men and animals that had chanced to catch a glimpse of her and had been petrified at the sight. Perseus, favored by Minerva and Mercury, set out against the Gorgon, and approached first the cave of the three Graeae (Grey Sisters - that shared a single eye and a single tooth among them):

• There sat the crones that had the single eye,
• Clad in blue sweeping cloak and snow-white gown;
• While o'er their backs their straight white hair hung down
• In long thin locks; dreadful their faces were,
• Carved all about with wrinkles of despair;
• And as they sat they crooned a dreary song,
• Complaining that their lives should last so long,
• In that sad place that no one came anear,
• In that wan place desert of hope and fear;
• And singing, still they rocked their bodies bent,
• And ever each to each the eye they sent.

Snatching the eye, Perseus compelled the Graeae, as the price of its restoration, to tell him how he might obtain the helmet of Hades that renders its wearer invisible, and the winged shoes and pouch that were necessary. With this outfit, to which Minerva added her shield and Mercury his knife, Perseus sped to the hall of the Gorgons. In silence sat two of the sisters,—

• But a third woman paced about the hall,
• And ever turned her head from wall to wall
• And moaned aloud, and shrieked in her despair;
• Because the golden tresses of her hair
• Were moved by writhing snakes from side to side,
• That in their writhing oftentimes would glide
• On to her breast, or shuddering shoulders white;
• Or, falling down, the hideous things would light upon her feet,
• and crawling thence would twine
• Their slimy folds about her ankles fine.

This was Medusa. Her, while she was praying the gods to end her misery, or, as some say, while she was sleeping, Perseus approached, and, guided by her image reflected in the bright shield which he bore, cut off her head, and so ended her miserable existence.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Neoclassical art movement.
• Find the Neoclassical art movement on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did the Neoclassical art movement flourish?
• Which art movement preceded the Neoclassical art movement?
• Which art movement followed the Neoclassical art movement?

Activity 5: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 22 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters are Perseus and Medusa.

1 / 5

Question 2

What special power did Medusa possess?

2 / 5

Answer 2

Anyone who looked upon Medusa's face turned to stone.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Neoclassical art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

How is this painting reflective of the Neoclassical art movement?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The Neoclassical art movement often featured mythological figures such as Perseus and Medusa.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Canova sculpted this artwork near the beginning of the 19th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are Perseus and Medusa.
2. What special power did Medusa possess? Anyone who looked upon Medusa's face turned to stone.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Neoclassical art movement.
4. How is this painting reflective of the Neoclassical art movement? The Neoclassical art movement often featured mythological figures such as Perseus and Medusa.
5. During which century was this artwork created? Canova sculpted this artwork near the beginning of the 19th century.

References

'Perseus.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Medusa.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Neoclassical Art.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Neoclassical Architecture.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.