WORKSHEET 6 – MYTHICAL ANIMALS IN PAINTINGS

Piero di Cosimo Perseus Freeing

Andromeda 1510 - c. 1515, oil on panel, 70 × 123 cm

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 –1519), widely regarded as one of the greatest inventors and artists to ever live, created many artworks depicting animals throughout his lifetime.

One artist influenced by Da Vinci was the Florence painter, Piero di Cosimo. Piero built a strong reputation for his imaginative paintings and mastery of painting flora and fauna.

Look at Piero di Cosimo’s painting Perseus Freeing Andromeda and describe the animal in the painting:

This is not a real animal. Why has Piero created the animal in his painting? What meaning does it give to the painting and why has it been included?

ACTIVITY 1:

In pairs discuss the following questions: What relationships do you have with animals in your life? What mythical stories do you know that are strongly centred on animals?

ACTIVITY 2:

Look for other artists who represent mythical animals in their artwork.