Head of Medusa (Sabbatini collection, Rome) n.d.

Giuseppe Grisoni made this watercolor, Head of Medusa, in the 18th century. It depicts a serpentine, unsettling vision of the mythological figure, framed as if it were a precious object in a collector’s cabinet. The artist's chosen medium, watercolor, allows for delicate, translucent washes of color, lending an ethereal quality to Medusa's face and serpentine locks. The gold frame, meticulously rendered, contrasts with the cooler tones of the central image, enhancing its allure. What's interesting here is that Grisoni hasn't made an object; he’s made a picture of one. The image speaks to the era's fascination with classical antiquity, fueled by archaeological discoveries and the rise of the Grand Tour, where wealthy Europeans acquired art and artifacts, and with it, social prestige. This watercolor invites us to consider how images can also be commodities, circulated and collected as symbols of status and taste. It's a reminder that the value we place on art is always bound up with its social context.