A striking and unsettling depiction of the mythological Gorgon, Medusa, at the moment of her beheading by Perseus. Painted on a convex wooden shield, the artwork intensifies the illusion of depth and realism, making Medusa’s severed head appear as if it is emerging from the surface. Her face is frozen in a scream of terror, her mouth open, eyes wide, and snakes writhing in her hair. Caravaggio’s use of dramatic chiaroscuro heightens the sense of horror, with the contrast between light and shadow drawing attention to the gory details of blood dripping from her neck. Despite being a severed head, Medusa appears paradoxically alive in her final moment of consciousness, reflecting Caravaggio’s mastery of capturing raw emotion and movement in paint.