Artwork
Jupiter and Danaë
Jupiter and Danaë is a pastel print by the Romanticist artist Louis-Marin Bonnet. It dates from 1774 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper right in plate: No. 28; lower center: JUPITER ET DANAÉ / Gravé d'après le Dessin de F. boucher, par L. Bonnet, Gratifié Pensionné du Roi pour l'invention de la Gravure au Paste. A Paris, chez Bonnet rue St. Jacques au coin de celle du Platre
About this work
Overview
Louis‑Marin Bonnet’s 1774 work titled Jupiter and Danaë is executed in pastel on laid paper and presented as a print. The composition centers on a reclining female figure positioned on a rock, her torso turned slightly toward the viewer. Above her, a cloud‑like formation suggests a divine presence, echoing the mythological narrative suggested by the title.
Subject & Meaning
The scene references the classical tale of Danaë, who was visited by the god Jupiter in the form of a shower of gold. Bonnet’s depiction captures the moment of encounter, with the ethereal cloud evoking the god’s arrival while the vulnerable posture of the woman underscores themes of exposure and divine intervention.
Technique & Style
Created with pastel, the artist exploits the medium’s capacity for soft, blended tones, rendering the woman’s skin in delicate pinks and the sky in muted blues and grays. The use of laid paper provides a subtle texture that interacts with the pastel’s creamy consistency, allowing for atmospheric gradations that suggest a storm‑laden backdrop.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the late eighteenth century, a period when pastel gained popularity for its immediacy and luminous quality. Although catalogued as a print, the piece remains a singular pastel drawing, reflecting Bonnet’s practice of producing works that could be reproduced for wider circulation. Its current location and ownership history are not extensively documented.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
