Tiziano (c.1488-1576)
Danae
after 1554
Oil on canvas, 135 x 152 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Akrisios, king of Argos, had his daughter locked in a tower because an oracle had prophesied that a grandson would kill him. Nevertheless, Jupiter became aware of Danae, fell in love with her and finally united with her in the form of a shower of gold. Their son Perseus will later accidentally kill his grandfather with a discus. There are two earlier versions of this painting in Naples and Madrid with varied assistant figures. (KHM)