Medusa
Caravaggio · 1590
Why it's great
Medusa's head with her hair of snakes screams in horror, painted on a round shield. Caravaggio painted it in about 1597, and the face is said to be his own, shown at the moment of being beheaded.
Where to see it
📍 Uffizi GalleryFlorence, Italy
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Caravaggio was an Italian painter born in 1571, whose real name was Michelangelo Merisi. He painted dramatic scenes lit by a strong beam of light with deep shadows and used ordinary people as models. He had a violent temper, had to flee Rome after a fight, and died in 1610.
