Benvenuto Cellini, Act III: The Casting of Perseus 1888

"Benvenuto Cellini, Act III: The Casting of Perseus" is a lithograph by Henri Fantin-Latour. It depicts a dramatic moment from Cellini’s autobiography, where he recounts the challenging casting of his famous bronze statue of Perseus. The artist utilizes chiaroscuro to highlight Cellini's dramatic posture and the intense heat of the furnace. The scene is imbued with a sense of suspense and struggle, reflecting the difficulties of the artistic process. The piece, created in 1888, is held in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago.