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The actress Kitty Fisher as Danae
Joshua Reynolds·1764
Historical Context
The Actress Kitty Fisher as Danae from 1764 at the Gemaldegalerie Berlin shows the famous courtesan in a mythological guise receiving a shower of gold coins. The witty transformation of classical mythology into contemporary satire demonstrates Reynolds's intellectual playfulness. Reynolds built his portraits using multiple glazed layers over a warm imprimatura, blending Rembrandt's tonal depth with Van Dyck's aristocratic elegance—though his experimental use of bitumen and carmine often...
Technical Analysis
The mythological disguise portrait combines classical composition with contemporary reference. Reynolds's handling transforms portrait into literary commentary.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice the shower of gold coins — the mythological reference is pointed, commenting on Kitty Fisher's famous association with wealthy admirers.
- ◆Look at the classical composition: Reynolds places Fisher in the pose of Danae, making the satirical parallel explicit.
- ◆Observe the warm, sensuous palette Reynolds uses for this explicitly allusive subject — richer than his conventional portrait manner.
- ◆Find the dual identity: Fisher is simultaneously Danae and herself, and the portrait works on both levels at once.
See It In Person
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