Perseus

sculpture by Cellini

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July 1, 2026

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The sculpture "Perseus with the Head of Medusa" was created by Benvenuto Cellini, a prominent Mannerist artist of the Italian Renaissance. This bronze sculpture, completed around 1554, is located in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence.12

The artwork depicts the Greek mythological hero Perseus, who, with the aid of gods like Hermes and Athena, defeated the Gorgon Medusa. Perseus is shown holding aloft Medusa's severed head, a pivotal moment in the myth where he uses her petrifying gaze, reflected in a shield, to overcome her. Cellini's "Perseus" is celebrated for its dynamic composition, capturing a sense of lightness and movement, and was intended to be viewed from multiple angles. It is considered a significant example of Renaissance sculpture.342

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Benvenuto Cellini
Later years
…best known sculpture, the bronze Perseus in Florence’s Loggia dei Lanzi, where it still stands, and for a colossal bust of the Grand Duke of Tuscany (Bargello, Florence). Fleeing to Venice in 1546 to escape charges of immorality, Cellini completed the bust by 1548. In the same period he restored…
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…best known sculpture, the bronze Perseus in Florence’s Loggia dei Lanzi, where it still stands, and for a colossal bust of the Grand Duke of Tuscany (Bargello, Florence). Fleeing to Venice in 1546 to escape charges of immorality, Cellini completed the bust by 1548. In the same period he restored…
Read More