In the context of Medusa (Rubens), discuss the Creation of the History.
Medusa, or sometimes referred to as The Head of Medusa, was created c.1618 using oil on canvas and is 68.5 x 118cm. Rubens enlisted the help of Frans Snyders who worked with him multiple times. Snyders was a nature artist and worked with Rubens to paint animals in his pieces, such as the snakes in Medusa. The snakes portrayed are nonvenomous European grass snakes, except for the two snakes on the right side of her head which are vipers. Vipers are a medieval symbol of ungratefulness. In Greek mythology, Medusa is portrayed as having venomous snakes for hair. The vipers are shown mating with the female having the male's head in her mouth. Towards the middle of the painting, an amphisbaena is shown. An amphisbaena is a snake-like creature that has two heads, one on each end of its body, and is noted in classical mythology. In Greek mythology, amphisbaenas are made from the blood of Medusa and feed on decaying bodies. Medusa is shown to have just been slain and is laying down in a pool of blood with the snakes and reptiles surrounding her.
European grass snakes Medusa vipers Head of Medusa amphisbaena Frans Snyders