Head of Medusa Studio of Antonio Canova Italian 1806–7
On view in the Museum's Carroll and Milton Petrie European Sculpture Court is the marble version of Perseus with the Head of Medusa (67.110.1) that Canova carved for Countess Valeria Tarnowska. He wrote that he was also shipping a plaster of the Medusa head, lest the marble one add too much weight to the statue's outstretched arm. The countess could attach the lighter plaster to the arm instead, and, placing a lit candle inside the marble one, which is hollow, she could watch the eerie light effects. Like many other Neoclassical Medusa heads, Canova's is based on the ancient marble mask the Rondanini Medusa (Glyptothek, Munich). MET, Object Number: 67.110.2
Terracotta stand, c. 570 BCE
Ergotimos and Kleitias signed a large volute-krater, now in the Archaeological Museum, Florence, that is a veritable compendium of Greek mythology, particularly relating to Achilles. This stand is the only other preserved work with their signatures. The three Gorgons were so horrible-looking that whoever saw them turned to stone. In Archaic art, the face is a frequent motif, partly because it fits well into a circular format. MET Object Number: 31.11.4
Fragment of a terracotta relief, Attic c. 600 BCE
MET Object Number: 42.11.33. Fragmentary relief depicting Achilles with a shield and spear, standing over a fallen figure (only partially extant). Inscribed upper right corner.The name Achilles and that of a fallen Amazon (Airia?) are inscribed on this relief.
