Caravaggio painted the 1597 work commonly known as Medusa, showing her severed head.
The painting presents Medusa’s head on a convex ceremonial shield, an unusual format that creates the illusion of a head projecting toward the viewer. Caravaggio used dramatic lighting, an intense expression, and twisting snakes to emphasize the horror of the moment. The work is generally dated to 1597, although some catalogues distinguish between versions made around this period.
The painting is often associated with Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte and was intended as a gift for the Medici. It is now held in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery. Caravaggio’s Medusa should not be confused with Cellini’s later bronze Perseus and Medusa, which shows Perseus holding the severed head in a full sculptural scene.