Jan Gossaert. Danaë
1527
unspecified
From the collection of Catholic University of Leuven
1527
unspecified
From the collection of Catholic University of Leuven
The painting shows a woman, Danaë, receiving gold coins from the sky. She's lying on a bed, surrounded by luxurious fabrics. The story behind this painting is interesting - it's based on a mythological tale where Danaë is imprisoned in a tower, but Zeus visits her in the form of a shower of gold. To learn more about the use of light and dark in this painting, look up the technique: chiaroscuro.
