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'Perseus
turning Phineas to Stone' by Giordano, early 1680s
This huge painting, entitled Perseus turning Phineas to Stone, was made by the
Italian Luca Giordano, in the early 1680s.
The subject comes from Ovid's Metamorphoses, and
tells the story of the princess Andromeda, who was
betrothed to Phineas. As she was being offered in
sacrifice to a marine monster, Andromeda was rescued
by the hero Perseus. She agreed to marry him instead,
and the wedding was followed by a great banquet,
bloodily interrupted by Phineas coming to claim
the bride. Outnumbered, Perseus was forced to bring
forth his secret weapon - the severed head of the
gorgon Medusa, which turned to stone anyone who
looked on it. This scene of high drama is focused
on the hero, Perseus, in blue, who is isolated on
the right, and on Phineas and his followers on the
left. Giordano depicts the exact moment that the
villains transform to statues - they are turning
grey from the head downwards before our eyes.
© The National Gallery, London |
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