Perseus Arming c1882. Alfred Gilbert, England (1854 - 1934). Perseus Arming has been described as one of the great works of Alfred Gilbert’s career. Influenced by Perseus and Medusa (1545-54) by Italian Renaissance sculptor Benvenuto Cellini, which depicts Perseus triumphantly standing over the slain Medusa, holding her head in his left hand and his sword in his right. Gilbert’s interpretation differs slightly by depicting the adolescent Perseus leaning back to check his sandals before the confrontation. In the original Greek myth, Perseus was lent his armour from various gods. Hermes lent his winged sandals, for travel at great speed, and Pluto lent him a cap of invisibility, so that he could travel unnoticed. The scimitar was given by Mercury, and his highly polished shield was from Athena. Gilbert is often said to have used his work as an allegory of his life as an artist at the time. In an interview in 1903, he stated: “As at that time my whole thoughts were of my artistic equipment for the futures. I conceived the idea that Perseus before becoming a hero was mere mortal, and that he had to look at his equipment.” Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.