Perseus toont het hoofd van Medusa

About this artwork

pen in zwart, penseel in grijs

Art Historical Context

This delicate pen-and-ink drawing by Flemish artist Godfried Ma captures a dramatic moment from Greek mythology: the hero Perseus triumphantly displaying the severed head of Medusa. Created between 1659 and 1700, the small work (just 178 by 234 millimeters) reflects the Baroque era’s fascination with dynamic storytelling and emotional intensity. Maes, active in Antwerp during the late seventeenth century, often explored classical themes in his drawings, using them as studies for larger paintings or prints that adorned the homes of wealthy collectors. Executed in black pen with gray brush wash...

About the Artist

Godfried Maes · 1649–1700

Comment on works: History; Portraits