Perseus and Andromeda

Perseus and Andromeda is a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Titian, now in the Wallace Collection in London. It was painted in 1554–56 as part of a series of mythological paintings called “poesie” (“poetry”) intended for King Philip II of Spain. The paintings took subjects from the Roman poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses, in this case,Book IV, lines 663–752, and all featured female nudes. The painting is in oils on canvas and measures 175 x 189.5 cm. It was probably one already described as “damaged” in 1605 and has suffered subsequent damages, as well as apparently being cut down along all the sides. Scientific imaging techniques show an unusually large number of changes as the composition evolved. The painting shows the hero Perseus flying through the air in combat to kill the sea monster who has come to kill Andromeda, who has been chained to a cliff by the seashore for him. Perseus has already attacked and wounded the monster on the shoulder. The painting is well-traveled; painted in Venice, it was delivered in modern Belgium, then went to Spain, Italy, England, and France before returning to England.