Well, since I saw Clash of the Titans last week, I thought I'd post some fine-art bondage pictures of Andromeda tied to her rock, being rescued by Perseus just before the sea-monster gets her. (All should be enlargeable by clicking.) Out of interest, I've started with two ancient depictions - the Greek vase above and this Roman wall-painting from Pompeii:
Look carefully. We have Andromeda and Perseus. Note who is wearing the clothes and who is naked, eh? See how it changes as we fast-forward a few centuries...
Perseus and Andromeda by Joachim Wtewael (1611). Particularly good bones and shells in the foreground, I think.
And here we are into the 19th Century:
Andromeda by Edward Poynter (1869)
Perseus and Andromeda by Lord Leighton (1869). I note how the monster seems to be protecting the girl from Perseus' arrows!
Roger Delivering Angelica by Jean Ingres (1819) The changed names are just a reworking of the myth into medieval form. Same story.
Panels from the Perseus series by Edward Burne-Jones (1884)
Andromeda and the Nereids by Theodore Chasseriau (1840)
Andromeda by Gustav Dore (1869). Possibly my favourite just because it is so dramatic.
There are loads of others - this must be one of the most popular classical themes for artists ever - including some truly ugly paintings by Rubens, which I will not sully my blog with...
Oo, for extra snootiness and disdain, I would have gone for 'with whcih I will not sully...' :D
ReplyDeleteI like your clothing point. Nothing like a little bit of naked sea monster wrassling in the morning.
I love the bit in Madagascar 2 when the great white shark flings itself into the volcano. A perfect solution to the problem of live sacrifice, if only it was always so easy!
Wow - now Ive got to watch Madagascar 2! My mind is boggling.
ReplyDelete:-)
Of course it would have helped my snootiness if I'd spelled "Rubens" correctly the first time round,lol
ReplyDeleteLol. I didn't spot that :)
ReplyDeleteI had a sneaking suspicion you hadn't seen Madagascar 2 somehow. It's a good moment!
I always had a weak spot for Tamara de Lempicka's version of 'Andromeda'...
ReplyDeleteOh yes ... this one? Not my style of art at all, but I can see why you like it: Very sensual.
ReplyDelete:-)
I have a long running love of Greek red figure vases, so the first image caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteThose were some fascinating studies of the subject, telling as much about the times they were made as the story they seek to illustrate.
As always, a delectable assortment of Illustrations.
:-) Craig
ReplyDeleteYay for those Man Candy loving Ancients!
ReplyDeleteExactly Kat - they weren't scared of winkies!
ReplyDelete