The Hood Art Museum

Paralyzing Marble Medusa
by Franchesca Kiesling

Medusa by Harriet Goodhue Hosmer 1830-1908

A marble Medusa turned me to stone. While strolling through the Israel Sack Gallery at the Hood Art Museum at Dartmouth, you will notice each room is organized by theme. The theme for the Israel Sack Gallery is the American collection. That is the exact reason I was so stunned by this gloriously smooth, delicate piece of stonework. It said Rome, but the artist was American.

Medusa in Greek mythology is a guardian who has the ability to turn anyone who looks her in the eye to stone. Her hair is made from venomous snakes and she is typically portrayed as a hideous woman. Perseus needed to defeat her in order to marry. He used a mirrored shield to turn Medusa into stone and kill her. After turned to stone, Perseus beheaded her, and from her blood the horse Pegasus was born. Medusa, even when turned to stone still has the ability to transform modern day lookers into stone though.

Harriet Goodhue Hosmer was an American sculptor and had an overwhelming interest in anatomy. This anatomical interest made her a better sculptor by being so meticulous with each piece of work. In Medusa, Harriet Goodhue Hosmer took a different approach to the mythical story of Medusa. Instead of relating Medusa to a hideous woman, she turned the transformation into a gorgon into a beautiful transformation. Medusa has a smooth complexion and wings along her head as some gorgons had. This added innocence to the piece. Even though Medusa was a mortal, she still had the godly powers. These wings were the representation of Pegasus as well. Below the breasts are two intertwining snakes locking her into stone forever. Their venom is no longer able to sting like before. Along her head where her hair parts, is a crown of snakes sinking their fangs into the next snake beside them.

On the back of this sculpture is an inscription that says, “Rome”. From America to Italy and Greece, this sculpture ties to a lot of different cultures. Anyone can appreciate such a divine woman and any child or adult can listen to the playful yet dark story of Medusa.

Her beauty can take any onlooker and freeze them. You will spend at least 15 minutes just staring at the complexity of her simplicity.