''Perseus Rescuing Andromeda'' is the title of two paintings by the Italian artist

Giuseppe Cesari Giuseppe Cesari (14 February 1568 – 3 July 1640) was an Italian Mannerist painter, also named Il Giuseppino and called ''Cavaliere d'Arpino'', because he was created ''Cavaliere di Cristo'' by his patron Pope Clement VIII. He was much patronize ...

, also known as Cavaliere d'Arpino. Cesari was a prominent late Renaissance and early Baroque painter, known for his work in Rome during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The paintings were created on stone, including one example on

lapis lazuli Lapis lazuli (; ), or lapis for short, is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color. Originating from the Persian word for the gem, ''lāžward'', lapis lazuli is ...

and another on

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

. These works are notable examples of a trend among Renaissance artists to work with stone supports, often incorporating the color and patterns of the stone into the composition.

Description

The two versions of the painting have similar compositions.

Perseus In Greek mythology, Perseus (, ; Greek language, Greek: Περσεύς, Romanization of Greek, translit. Perseús) is the legendary founder of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer of ...

flies on horseback, ready to confront the monster beneath him. The sea monster, its scaled hide reflecting the iridescent hues of the ocean depths, rears up menacingly, its jaws gaping wide, poised to consume its innocent victim, Andromeda, the Ethiopian princess. She stands bound and helpless as she gazes at the threat beneath her.

Materials

Cesari exploits the properties of stone to give each painting distinctive qualities. When working on lapis lazuli, he uses the stone's rich blue hue to represent the vast expanse of sky, which serves as the backdrop for the heroic rescue. In his painting on limestone, Cesari capitalizes on the stone's natural green-gray tones to fashion the rugged crags that loom behind Andromeda, lending a sense of formidable grandeur to the landscape. In other works, Cesari explored different materials such as slate and wood, where each medium contributes distinct nuances to the final composition.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perseus Rescuing Andromeda Paintings in the Saint Louis Art Museum 16th-century paintings Paintings of Andromeda