Old Painting From The End Of The XVIII Century

Painting of the Venetian school, follower of Tiziano Vecellio. The painting again features the theme of Danea and the golden rain. A theme repeatedly depicted in authoritative painting ranging from 1500 to the time of Gustav Klimt -1900. Oil painting on canvas Dimensions: 156 X 114 cm The story of Danae and Jupiter The story of Danae and Jupiter: the myth of the golden rain Argo, with its many towers, was governed by Acrisius who had no only a daughter Danae, beautiful but who could not succeed him on the throne. Acrisius therefore went to consult an oracle who replied that Danae would give him a male nephew, who would become a great hero, but who would be the cause of his death and would then reign in his place. To prevent the fulfillment of the prophecy, Acrisius had an underground prison built in one of the city's bronze-walled towers, where he had Danae locked up. The unfortunate Danae, inside the bronze walls, was guarded by armed sentries instructed to let no one pass. But Jupiter (Zeus) to penetrate into the basement and fulfill the prophecy (will of the gods) turned into a golden rain, which during a thunderstorm rained on the tower and penetrated underground, passing through the bronze walls, drenched in herself sleeping Danae, fertilizing her. At the birth of Perseus, the son of Danae, Acrisius, hearing the cries of the child, noticed that a nephew had been born, he lost his head in terror and, locked Danae and his son in a box, he threw them into the sea to get rid of it and change fate. At Jupiter's request, the box remained afloat and ran aground on the shore of the island of Serìfo, one of the Cyclades, of which Polydette was king. The king's brother, while fishing, found the chest and the two castaways and took them to the palace of Polydette, who received them kindly. Pèrseo, the son of Jupiter and Danae, was brought up like a prince, grew up healthy and strong, good, generous and greedy for glory, some legends say that his mother Danae was meanwhile the king's slave.