EXPOSE YOURSELF TO ART

Danaë is Rembrandt's painting is a life-sized depiction of the character Danaë from Greek mythology, the mother of Perseus. She is presumably depicted as welcoming Zeus, who impregnated her in the form of a shower of gold.

Although the artist's wife Saskia was the original model for Danaë, Rembrandt later changed the figure's face to that of his mistress Geertje Dircx. Given that this is one of Rembrandt's most magnificent paintings, it is not out of the question that he cherished it, but it also may have been difficult to sell because of its eight-by-ten-foot size.

From the collection of Pierre Crozat, which from the 18th century resides in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.


I can just imagine all the comments I'm going to get about golden showers . . . heh . . . S.L.

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