Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1898)

The Death of Medusa I

In contrast to the previous cartoon this is largely finished and is one of the most striking compositions in the series. Medusa was carrying the children of the god Poseidon and when Perseus strikes off her head they are released: the winged horse Pegasus and her human son Chrysaor. Perseus is wearing an invented style of armour typical of Burne-Jones's work. The carefully modelled anatomy of the horse and the draped figure of Medusa are inspired by Greek sculpture.

← Back to the Collection