26-10-2017, 03:14 PM
Marco: true, the pose resembles a common nymph pose. As I demonstrated though, this was an extremely common Andromeda pose in antiquity and a 'rare strand' - yet still clearly present - in medieval imagery.
I don't know why the nymph has only one visible leg. It cannot be denied that the VM uses its own specific "leg programme". See my post: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. . This has left me convinced that there is some meaning to the way legs are depicted. If Andromeda's legs are planted firmly on the ground, might that symbolize her being unable to move? I don't know. As you say, Andromeda is supposed to have two legs.
Maybe it's as simple as this: most nymphs are "walking" or at least in contrapost. Andromeda can't be walking since she's stuck. Even in "being freed by Perseus" depictions, her feet are sometimes planted firmly next to each other: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Does VM perspective turn this into one visible leg? To keep it simple, that's the explanation I would propose.
There are a few additional arguments in favor of Andromeda. The nymph is standing in wavy water. In other depictions she's usually bound on the beach, but given the VM's artistic range, this is a very appropriate depiction of the myth.
Also note that this is one of the relatively few nymphs who is clearly a maiden. Unmarked face, firm breasts, no big belly... I have shown in my post that the headgear can be seen as making the figure 'foreign'.
But those things can all be debated. What really sets this nymph apart from the others is the fact that she's standing in wavy water. Anyone who knew the story of Andromeda would have recognised the allusion.
I don't know why the nymph has only one visible leg. It cannot be denied that the VM uses its own specific "leg programme". See my post: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. . This has left me convinced that there is some meaning to the way legs are depicted. If Andromeda's legs are planted firmly on the ground, might that symbolize her being unable to move? I don't know. As you say, Andromeda is supposed to have two legs.
Maybe it's as simple as this: most nymphs are "walking" or at least in contrapost. Andromeda can't be walking since she's stuck. Even in "being freed by Perseus" depictions, her feet are sometimes planted firmly next to each other: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Does VM perspective turn this into one visible leg? To keep it simple, that's the explanation I would propose.
There are a few additional arguments in favor of Andromeda. The nymph is standing in wavy water. In other depictions she's usually bound on the beach, but given the VM's artistic range, this is a very appropriate depiction of the myth.
Also note that this is one of the relatively few nymphs who is clearly a maiden. Unmarked face, firm breasts, no big belly... I have shown in my post that the headgear can be seen as making the figure 'foreign'.
But those things can all be debated. What really sets this nymph apart from the others is the fact that she's standing in wavy water. Anyone who knew the story of Andromeda would have recognised the allusion.