Danae and Jupiter
Historical Context
Danaë and Jupiter, painted in 1736 and now at Stockholm University, depicts the famous Ovidian subject in which Jupiter transforms himself into a shower of gold to penetrate the tower in which the princess Danaë has been imprisoned by her father. The subject had been treated in some of the most celebrated paintings in European art — by Titian in multiple versions for Philip II and Cardinal Farnese, by Rembrandt, Klimt, and others — and Tiepolo's version for a Swedish patron demonstrates the international market for mythological subjects involving the female nude. The small dimensions (41 × 53 cm) suggest an intimate collector's piece rather than a palace decoration, and the Swedish provenance of a 1736 Venetian painting indicates the reach of Tiepolo's reputation into Scandinavia during his middle career. Stockholm University's ownership of this work within a northern European academic institution is unexpected; it may have entered university collections through a bequest or transfer from a Swedish aristocratic collection. The golden light flooding from above — Jupiter's transformed form — gave Tiepolo an opportunity for his most spectacular luminous effects.
Technical Analysis
Golden light cascading from above serves as both the narrative element (Jupiter's golden rain) and the painting's primary illumination source. The recumbent nude is modeled with warm, translucent glazes that create Tiepolo's characteristic pearlescent flesh.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice the golden light cascading from above, serving as both the narrative element — Jupiter's golden rain — and the painting's primary illumination source.
- ◆Look at the recumbent Danae modeled with warm, translucent glazes that create Tiepolo's characteristic pearlescent flesh tones.
- ◆Observe how Tiepolo transforms this intimate boudoir scene into a celestial spectacle for Stockholm University.
