Who painted The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter?

The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter was painted by Hendrick Goltzius in 1603.

Where can I see The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter?

The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter is held by Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

What movement is The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter?

The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter?

Museum-quality prints of The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter

Hendrick Goltzius , 1603

The Sleeping Danae Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Hendrick Goltzius. It dates from 1603 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1603 by Hendrick Goltzius, a Dutch artist of German origin, this oil painting illustrates the myth of Danaë. The work belongs to the early Baroque period and is part of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents Danaë asleep on a white sheet, her body relaxed and partially covered by a dark cloth. Gold coins and a shower of gold suggest the arrival of Jupiter, who in myth impregnates her by descending in golden form.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting displays Goltzius’s precise handling of light and texture. The contrast between the luminous sheet and the darker background, along with the delicate rendering of cherubic figures, reflects early Baroque sensibilities.

History & Provenance

After remaining in private hands for centuries, the painting entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European Baroque holdings.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Hendrick Goltzius

Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.