The legend of Medusa is at one time or another known by many people. Medusa is the lady that had a head full of serpents as hair. Legend has it that if any one were to look at her in the eyes that he or she would automatically turn into stone. The art work that I plan to do for this week is the bust of Medusa, which is now held in the capital museum of Rome, Italy. This piece was sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and was made out of marble.
If one would look at the bust, they would see a face that is both confused and sad. The emotion that is portrayed in this art work is such a powerful emotion, much more than was ever portrayed by a woman back in the time the piece was created. The legend behind the emotion is that Medusa almost scared herself. It is said that because of her serpent hair and the ugliness of her face she did not like what she saw at all. In fact, legend has it that she took a look in the mirror and saw the image of herself and this is the expression she had when this happened. If anybody would look at this bust, they could almost say that they could see this in her eyes and emotion, because of the detail that the Bernini put into this sculpture.
Not only is there the legend behind the emotion/expression of the bust of Medusa, but there is also a legend behind as to why there is a bust. The legend is that Romans would use this bust to scare off enemies and to stop them from entering the city. Because of the legend of the serpents and the look of death, people were highly afraid of the Medusa Bust. They thought that they too would turn into stone just by looking into her eyes. Not only was it used on the entrances but the image of Medusa was also placed on shields also trying to have the same effect: to create fear.
My second art work that I chose to do this week is the Capitoline She-wolf statue that is also located in the museum in Rome. This statue is bronze and stands about 75 cm high and 114cm long, and the artist is unknown however it is said that it was an Etruscan Society work with the two babies being added later.
This sculpture is the image of Rome and is the symbol for all it stands for because the two babies that are suckling on the She-wolf is Remus and Romulus which created Rome. The legend has it that when the two were born their father was overthrown by their uncle Amulius, which become angry on the birth of these two, ordered them to be thrown into the Tiber river. After going down the river in a basket, they were picked up by the wolf and began to be nursed by her. Thus is where the image of these two began.
After being raised by the she-wolf they were found by a Sheppard who took them in and continued to raise them. Then legend continues to explain that the two brothers split up and Romulus created the City of Rome and became the first king. This is why the symbol of this sculpture is so powerful to the city of Rome. This symbol is on shirts, team logos, and because of Mussolini, now there are replicas in “Roman“ cities across the world that were given as gifts.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitoline_Wolf
http://www.igougo.com/story-s1222865-Rome-The_Capitoline_She-Wolf_and_The_Origins_of_Rome.html
http://en.museicapitolini.org/museo/restauri/restauro_del_busto_di_medusa_di_gian_lorenzo_bernini
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