File:Andromeda and the Sea Monster, by Massimiliano Soldani, 11364501.jpg

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Object

Massimiliano Soldani Benzi: Andromeda and the Sea Monster  wikidata:Q64808324 reasonator:Q64808324
Artist
Massimiliano Soldani Benzi  (1656–1740)  wikidata:Q3297734
 
Massimiliano Soldani Benzi
Alternative names
Massimiliano Soldani
Description Italian sculptor and medalist
Date of birth/death 15 July 1656 Edit this at Wikidata 23 February 1740 Edit this at Wikidata
Location of birth/death Montevarchi Edit this at Wikidata Montevarchi Edit this at Wikidata
Work location
Flourence
Authority file
artist QS:P170,Q3297734
image of artwork listed in title parameter on this page
Title
Andromeda and the Sea Monster
Part of Andromeda and the Sea Monster; Leda and the Swan Edit this at Wikidata
Object type sculpture Edit this at Wikidata
Description
English: Andromeda and the Sea Monster. Bronze on grey-green marble bases with bronze mounts, 49.6 × 33.3 × 20.7 cm (19 1/2 × 13 1/8 × 8 1/8 in.), designed before 1717; cast about 1725. Object Number: 97.SB.61.1.

As a sea monster lunges towards her, the nude Andromeda recoils, straining against the chains that tie her to the rocky ledge. Her hair blows behind her, indicating sudden movement. The sharp angles of her eyebrows and nose express anxiety, while the diagonal of her body expresses the repulsion she feels towards the growling beast.

Andromeda and the Sea Monster depicts a dramatic moment from the ancient Greek author Euripides' tale of Andromeda and Perseus. Andromeda's mother angered the gods with her boast that Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids, the attendants of the god of the sea, Poseidon. To appease the offended Poseidon, who threatened to destroy their entire kingdom, Andromeda's parents sacrificed their daughter by leaving her where she would be devoured by his monster. As Andromeda awaits the monster, chained to a rock, Perseus flies overhead, falls instantly in love with her, and rescues her by slaying the beast. Massimiliano Soldani Benzi's interpretation of the story is unusual because he focused on Andromeda's horror at the monster instead of on her rescue.

Master sculptor Massimiliano Soldani Benzi cast the bronze groups of Andromeda and the Sea Monster and Leda and the Swan as pendants. Each depicts an episode from classical mythology, and the two are visually linked by opposing compositions. Leda reclines, forming a diagonal from the lower right to the upper left. This line is balanced by that created by Andromeda—a diagonal moving from the lower left to the upper right—as she attempts to escape. Both figures also display heightened emotion: Leda expresses seductive eroticism, and Andromeda expresses terrifying horror.

Each group retains its original base, golden reddish lacquer patina, and elaborate matching bronze mounts on the base.

Description: [CC-BY-SA-4.0] J. Paul Getty Trust.
Date 1725
date QS:P571,+1725-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Medium bronze and marble Edit this at Wikidata
Dimensions height: 49.6 cm (19.5 in) Edit this at Wikidata; width: 33.3 cm (13.1 in) Edit this at Wikidata; thickness: 20.7 cm (8.1 in) Edit this at Wikidata
dimensions QS:P2048,+49.6U174728
dimensions QS:P2049,+33.3U174728
dimensions QS:P2610,+20.7U174728
institution QS:P195,Q29247
Accession number
97.SB.61.1 (J. Paul Getty Museum) Edit this at Wikidata
References https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/106383/massimiliano-soldani-benzi-andromeda-and-the-sea-monster-leda-and-the-swan-italian-designed-before-1717-cast-about-1725/ Edit this at Wikidata

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While the Getty Research Institute cannot make an absolute statement on the copyright status of a given image, "Open content images can be used for any purpose without first seeking permission from the Getty."

More information can be found at http://www.getty.edu/about/opencontent.html.

For the sculpture:

Public domain

This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer.


This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929.

This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights.

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current11:53, 9 June 2019Thumbnail for version as of 11:53, 9 June 20191,673 × 2,955 (5.3 MB)Yann (talk | contribs)File:Andromeda and the Sea Monster, and Leda and the Swan, 11364501.jpg cropped 61 % horizontally, 10 % vertically using CropTool with lossless mode.

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