44" x 54" Acrylic Encapsulated Pigment on Museum Etching Cotton
Andromeda was the beautiful daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia, whose kingdom ruled over the land of ancient Ethiopia.
Her mother boasted that Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids, the sea nymph daughters of the sea god Nereus. This brazen act of hubris deeply insulted the Nereids.
As punishment for Cassiopeia's arrogance, Poseidon sent a sea monster called the Ketos (Kraken) to ravage the kingdom's coastal cities.
After consulting oracles, Cepheus was told the only way to appease the gods was to sacrifice his daughter Andromeda to the Ketos.
Andromeda was chained to an altar by the sea as an offering to the monster.
But the hero Perseus, who had just slain the Gorgon Medusa, happened upon the tragic scene. Instantly smitten by Andromeda's beauty, Perseus used the head of Medusa to kill the Ketos, free Andromeda, and make her his wife.
Here Andromeda rears Perseus’ steed, the winged horse Pegasus.