Andromeda Chained to the Rocks (Rembrandt)
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| - | '''Andromeda''' was a [[woman]] from [[Greek mythology]] who was [[Damsel in distress |chained to a rock]] to be a [[sacrifice]] to a [[sea monster]] as [[divine punishment]] for her mother's [[bragging]]. She was [[knight in shining armor|saved]] from death by [[Perseus]], her future husband. Her name is the [[Latin language|Latinized]] form of the Greek '''Ανδρομέδη''' (''Andromedē''). The [[etymology]] of the name is "to think of a man," from '''ανδρος''' (''andros'') "man" combined with '''μηδομαι''' (''mēdomai'') "to think, to be mindful of." | + | :''[[Andromeda]]'' |
| - | ==Portrayals of the myth== | + | '''''Andromeda Chained to the Rock'''''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_011.jpg] was painted by [[Rembrandt]] in 1631, and is now in the [[Mauritshuis]], in [[The Hague]]. |
| - | [[Sophocles]] and [[Euripides]] (and in more modern times [[Pierre Corneille|Corneille]]) made the story the subject of [[tragedies]], and its incidents were represented in numerous ancient works of art. Jean-Baptiste Lully's opera [[Persée]] also dramatizes the myth. | + | Andromeda represents Rembrandt's first full length [[mythological]] [[female nude]] [[history painting]] and is taken from a story in [[Ovid]]'s [[Metamorphoses]]. This story is about an Ethiopian princess who, as punishment for her mother's boasting, was chained to a rock to be sacrificed to a sea monster that was tormenting the Ethiopian people. |
| - | Andromeda has been the subject of numerous ancient and modern works of art, including [[Andromeda Chained to the Rocks (Rembrandt)]], one of [[Titian]]'s ''poesies'' ([[Wallace Collection]]), and compositions by [[Joachim Wtewael]] ([[Louvre]]), [[Veronese]] (Rennes), [[Rubens]], [[Ingres]] and [[Gustave Moreau]]. From the Renaissance onwards the chained nude figure of Andromeda was typically the centre of interest, and often she was shown alone, fearfully awaiting the monster. | + | Many artists such as [[Titian]] have depicted this story by showing [[Andromeda (mythology)|Andromeda]], her rescuer [[Perseus]], and the sea monster all in the same composition. In this work, Rembrandt shies away from classical conventions by showing her not as a glamorous beauty but as a frightened naturalistic looking girl. No other figure is included, but her alarmed look out of the picture space to the right creates narrative tension. The painting is an example of Rembrandt's rejection of idealized beauty. Since he did not believe true beauty existed naturally, he painted women as he saw them; naturally imperfect and flawed. |
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| - | The 1981 film ''[[Clash of the Titans]]'' retells the story of Perseus, Andromeda, and Cassiopeia, but makes a few changes (notably Cassiopeia boasts that her daughter is more beautiful than [[Thetis]] as opposed to the Nereids as a group). Thetis was a Nereid, but also the future mother of [[Achilles]]. Andromeda and Perseus meet and fall in love after he saves her soul from the enslavement of Thetis' hideous son, Calibos, whereas in the myth, they simply meet as Perseus returns home from having slain [[Medusa]]. Andromeda is also depicted as being strong-willed and independent, whereas in the stories she is only really mentioned as being the princess whom Perseus saves from the sea monster. Andromeda was portrayed by [[Judi Bowker]] in this film. Also, the subplot about Thetis' son Calibos was added to the plot of the film. However, he more closely resembles [[Caliban (character)|Caliban]] from [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[The Tempest (play)|Tempest]]'' than any creature truly found in Greek myth. | + | Rembrandt's subsequent nude mythological paintings from this period ''[[Diana Bathing]]'' and ''[[Danaë (Rembrandt painting)|Danaë]]'' show his evolving portrayal of the nude. |
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| - | At the port city of [[Jaffa]], [[Israel]], an outcropping of rocks near the harbour is reputed by local legend to have been the place from which Andromeda was rescued by Perseus. | + | |
| - | ==Theme in art== | + | |
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| - | *[[Titian]], [[Wallace Collection]] | + | |
| - | *[[Joachim Wtewael]], Louvre | + | |
| - | *''[[Andromeda Chained to the Rocks (Rembrandt)|Andromeda Chained to the Rocks]]'', Rembrandt (1630) | + | |
| - | *Andromeda's parents thank [[Perseus (mythology)|Perseus]] for freeing her; ''La Délivrance d'Andromède'' (1679) [[Pierre Mignard]] | + | |
| - | *''Andromeda Chained to the Rock by the Nereids'' (1840) by [[Théodore Chassériau]] | + | |
| - | *''Andromeda'' (1869) by [[Gustave Doré|Paul Gustave Doré]] | + | |
| - | *''Andromeda'' (1892) by [[M Arosa]] | + | |
| - | *A sculpture of Andromeda by [[Domenico Guidi]]. | + | |
| - | *Painting by [[Eugène Delacroix]] | + | |
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Andromeda Chained to the Rock[1] was painted by Rembrandt in 1631, and is now in the Mauritshuis, in The Hague.
Andromeda represents Rembrandt's first full length mythological female nude history painting and is taken from a story in Ovid's Metamorphoses. This story is about an Ethiopian princess who, as punishment for her mother's boasting, was chained to a rock to be sacrificed to a sea monster that was tormenting the Ethiopian people.
Many artists such as Titian have depicted this story by showing Andromeda, her rescuer Perseus, and the sea monster all in the same composition. In this work, Rembrandt shies away from classical conventions by showing her not as a glamorous beauty but as a frightened naturalistic looking girl. No other figure is included, but her alarmed look out of the picture space to the right creates narrative tension. The painting is an example of Rembrandt's rejection of idealized beauty. Since he did not believe true beauty existed naturally, he painted women as he saw them; naturally imperfect and flawed.
Rembrandt's subsequent nude mythological paintings from this period Diana Bathing and Danaë show his evolving portrayal of the nude.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Andromeda Chained to the Rocks (Rembrandt)" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
![[1]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_011.jpg){kind=link}