Medusa
1597-1598
Imagine a shield so terrifying it could turn you to stone—Caravaggio painted this screaming, snake-haired head on a convex panel to mimic a real battlefield trophy. Legend has it he used his own face as the model for the Gorgon, capturing the exact moment of decapitation with blood spurting from the neck. The distorted, bulging perspective makes the terrifying image pop out at the viewer, serving as a protective emblem for the Medici family. It's a perfect example of Baroque drama, freezing a moment of pure horror in time.
Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence
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