Attributed to Bernardino Cesari

Attributed to BERNARDINO CESARI ( Italy, 1571 - June 30, 1622)
"Perseus and Andromeda".
Oil on canvas.
Provenance: Granados Collection, Madrid.
Measurements: 49,5 x 37,5 cm.
The painting "Perseus and Andromeda", attributed to the Italian artist Bernardino Cesari, is a work that encapsulates the essence of early Baroque art, both in style and subject matter. The work depicts the dramatic moment when the hero Perseus rescues the princess Andromeda from her imminent sacrifice to the sea monster.
The composition focuses on the figure of Andromeda, tied to a rock on the shore. Andromeda's anatomy is treated with idealized realism, a characteristic Renaissance trait still preserved in the early Baroque. Perseus descends from the sky riding on Pegado, his heroic and determined figure towering against the sky. Perseus' anatomy is idealized, showing his strength and bravery, but also with a touch of grace and elegance, typical of Cesari's style. In the lower part of the composition, the sea monster emerges from the waves, ready to claim his victim. The depiction of the monster is grotesque with exaggerated details and a menacing expression. The tension between the idealized beauty of the human bodies and the ugliness of the monster is a common device in Baroque art to emphasize the drama of the scene.
Cesari's brushwork is loose and vibrant, creating an effect of movement and emotion. The coloring is rich and contrasting, with effective use of light and shadow to highlight the main elements of the narrative. Light plays a crucial role in the composition, guiding the viewer's eye through the scene and creating a dramatic effect.
Bernardino Cesari, also known as the Cavaliere d'Arpino, was an Italian Mannerist and early Baroque painter, active mainly in Rome during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His style is characterized by elegance of form, expressiveness of faces and richness of decoration. Although his training was mannerist, his work shows a transition to the Baroque, with a greater emphasis on naturalism and emotion. On November 9, 1592, condemned to death for association with bandits, he fled to Naples. On May 13, 1593 he was pardoned and returned to Rome. In 1616 he traveled with Giuseppe to Naples to help paint in the Certosa di San Martino, and then to Piedimonte di Alife to paint a large Last Judgment in the chapel of the fathers "predicatori". He traveled to Monte Cassino, where he worked with Giuseppe on frescoes for the refectory and the stanza of St. Benedict, and then to Rome, where he painted an oil canvas of Noli me tangere, a fresco of Constantine the Great, a St. Peter and three oil paintings for the church Santi Cosma e Damiano .

The theme of Perseus and Andromeda was very popular in Baroque painting, as it allowed artists to depict dramatic and spectacular scenes, with a great display of figures and visual effects. This story offered the opportunity to explore themes such as love, heroism and the fight against evil, which were very much to the taste of the public at the time. Cesari's version of "Perseus and Andromeda" is an outstanding example of this trend, with its dynamic composition, vibrant coloring and expressive drama. The work reflects the Baroque interest in the depiction of emotion and movement, as well as in the creation of illusionistic and theatrical effects.