Andromeda, Perseus Coming to Her Rescue
William Etty·1840
Historical Context
Andromeda, Perseus Coming to Her Rescue, painted around 1840 and now in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, depicts the classical myth of the chained princess rescued from a sea monster by the hero Perseus. The subject — sanctioning a beautiful female nude in dramatic peril — was one of the most frequently painted in European art, treated by Titian, Rubens, and Rembrandt. Etty's version demonstrates his mature mastery of flesh painting and dramatic composition. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum, opened in 1868 as a memorial to Prince Albert, houses Exeter's civic collection and reflects the Victorian enthusiasm for combining art, natural history, and ethnography in comprehensive public institutions.
Technical Analysis
Etty's rendering of the chained Andromeda demonstrates his mastery of flesh painting in the Venetian tradition, with warm, glowing skin tones against the dramatic seascape. The dynamic figure of Perseus adds action to the composition's sensuous beauty.
Look Closer
- ◆The rescue of Andromeda from the sea monster gave Etty a classical framework for dramatic contrasts — the hero's muscular action set against the chained woman's vulnerable beauty.
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