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Door Knocker in Form of Medusa



Background:

Door Knocker in Form of Medusa
Door Knocker in Form of Medusa
1925
Emile-Antoine Bourdelle
Bronze
Gift of Atherton and Winifred W. Bean

Key Ideas
Story
Background

Medusa
French Sculpture
Emile-Antoine Bourdelle
Door Knocker in Form of Medusa

Discussion Questions

Medusa
Perseus's story is one of many Greek monster-slayer myths that features the theme of good outwitting evil. Since at least the 6th century B.C., Greeks placed images of Medusa's terrifying head on shields and buildings in order to frighten away enemies and evil spirits.

According to 4th-century B.C. revisions of her story, Medusa was a beautiful woman who was turned into a monster by jealous Athena. At the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, writers and artists popularized this image of Medusa as a beautiful young woman.

French Sculpture
No single style dominated French sculpture at the turn of the century. Sculptors worked in NATURALISTIC, expressionistic, and ABSTRACT symbolic styles. In response to the popular appeal of the consciously decorative Art Nouveau style, many artists sought subjects that allowed them to incorporate its organic forms and long, sinuous curves into their art.


Emile-Antoine Bourdelle
Emile-Antoine Bourdelle (ay-MEEL an-TWAN boor-DELL) was an eclectic sculptor who drew upon a number of the diverse trends of his time, including elements of the Art Nouveau style. He drew most heavily upon the organic qualities of French Medieval cathedral sculpture and the simple forms of early Greek sculpture. Motivated by his conviction that history's greatest sculptures were those integrated with architecture, Bourdelle created many of his sculptures for architectural settings.

Roll over the image to see specific attributes from the Door Knocker in Form of Medusa

Door knocker handle Braided hair Perseus' clenched fist Snakes


Door Knocker in Form of Medusa
In this bronze door knocker, Bourdelle depicts the severed head of Medusa, hanging from Perseus's clenched fist. Above his hand a bunch of snakes writhe, striking out as if they are going to attack. Below, only a few of Medusa's many braids actually look like scaly snakes.

As was popular at the turn of the century, Bourdelle represents Medusa as a beautiful young woman rather than the horrible monster of the original story. Her facial features - high cheekbones, narrow nose, square chin, and the corners of her small mouth - consciously recall the expressively modeled faces of early Greek sculptures of young women. The dominant curves of her hair, however, reflect the popular Art Nouveau style.

Bourdelle's clever transformation of Medusa into an ornamental door knocker attests to his commitment to integrating sculpture and architecture. Two entwined braids extend from ear to ear to create the knocker's handle. When lifted up and then let go, Medusa's head would knock against the circular form behind it. Bourdelle produced ten casts of this door knocker, an indication that he designed it for a general market rather than for a specific door.

Key Ideas Story Background Discussion Questions
 
 

 

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