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Discover the Engraving: Perseus Showing the Head of Medusa to Atlas (1767-1771)

This 18th-century artwork by Legrand and Eisen illustrates a dramatic moment from Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Delve into the intricate details of "Perseus Showing the Head of Medusa to Atlas," a remarkable engraving created between 1767 and 1771. This piece by Louis-Claude Legrand and Charles-Joseph-Dominique Eisen brings to life a pivotal scene from Book IV of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Witness Perseus's encounter with the titan Atlas in a meticulously depicted French-style garden, transforming myth into fine art.

About Perseusz pokazujący głowę Meduzy Atlasowi at Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw

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Exhibition summary

This entry details an engraving titled 'Perseus Showing the Head of Medusa to Atlas,' created between 1767 and 1771 by Louis-Claude Legrand and Charles-Joseph-Dominique Eisen. The artwork illustrates a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses, depicting Perseus's encounter with Atlas in a French-style garden.

Curatorial context

This artwork, 'Perseus Showing the Head of Medusa to Atlas,' is an engraving created by Louis-Claude Legrand (engraver) after a drawing by Charles-Joseph-Dominique Eisen. Dated between 1767 and 1771, it was prepared for the Parisian edition of Ovid's Metamorphoses. The illustration depicts a key moment from Book IV, Fable VII, where Perseus, having defeated Medusa, encounters the titan Atlas in his garden. Atlas, fearing Perseus might steal his golden fruit, guards his garden, leading Perseus to show him Medusa's head, which transforms Atlas into a mountain. The scene is set in a meticulously planned French-style garden, characterized by a central fountain, a lawn, balustrades, and tree-lined avenues. The composition balances the symmetrical layout with the dramatic tension conveyed through the protagonists' gestures and expressions. The narrative draws from the detailed account in Ovid's epic poem, highlighting Perseus's heroic deeds and mythological encounters.

Perseusz pokazujący głowę Meduzy Atlasowi key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Perseusz pokazujący głowę Meduzy Atlasowi at Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw

Venue
Royal Łazienki Museum
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
Information not currently available
Artist line / attribution
Engraving after Charles-Joseph-Dominique Eisen (drawer), engraved by Louis-Claude Legrand. Created for the publication 'Les Métamorphoses d’Ovide' (1767-1771).
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