Medusa. Italy, XVI century

Medusa. Italy, XVI century
White marble.
Measurements: 18,5 x 19 x 10,5 cm.

Head of Medusa carved in white marble, Italian work of the late Renaissance, conceived as a relief of ornamental or architectural character. The piece represents the female face of the Gorgon with an intense expression and a half-open mouth, a feature that accentuates its dramatic force. The hair is arranged in wavy locks intertwined with snakes, treated in relief and adapted to the trapezoidal format of the block.

The iconography of Medusa, inherited from the classical tradition, was widely recovered during the Italian Renaissance, a period in which the models of Greco-Roman antiquity were reinterpreted under a new humanist ideal. Beyond its mythological dimension, the Medusa's head had an apotropaic, i.e. protective, function, which is why it was frequently used in architectural keystones, fountains, coats of arms and decorative elements.

The carving shows a careful modeling of the facial features, with special attention to the volume of the face and the plastic treatment of the hair, which contrasts with the sobriety of the background. The marble shows patina and light wear in accordance with its age, which softens the surface and reinforces its historical character.

A work of remarkable expressive intensity that synthesizes the classical heritage and the sculptural sensibility of the Italian Cinquecento.