Ancient painting from the late 18th century "Danaë and Jupiter: The Myth of the Golden Rain"

Painting from the Venetian school, a follower of Tiziano Vecellio, revisiting the theme of Danaë and the golden rain, repeatedly depicted in authoritative painting from the 1500s up to the times of Gustav Klimt -1900. Oil on canvas Dimensions: 156 X 114 cm The Story of Danaë and Jupiter The story of Danaë and Jupiter: the myth of the golden rain Argos, with its many towers, was ruled by Acrisius, who had only one daughter, Danaë, beautiful but unable to succeed him to the throne. Acrisius, therefore, went to consult an oracle who replied that Danaë would give him a male grandson, who would become a great hero, but would be the cause of his death and would then reign in his place. To prevent the fulfillment of the prophecy, Acrisius had an underground prison built in one of the city's towers with bronze walls, where he had Danaë locked up. The unfortunate Danaë, within the bronze walls, was guarded by armed sentinels who had the task of not letting any man pass. But Jupiter (Zeus) to penetrate the underground and make the prophecy (the will of the gods) come true, transformed himself into a rain of gold that, during a storm, rained on the tower and penetrated underground, crossing the bronze walls, soaking the sleeping Danaë, impregnating her. When Perseus, the son of Danaë, was born, Acrisius, hearing the baby's cries, realized that he had a grandson, lost his head in terror, and, locked Danaë and her son in a chest, had them thrown into the sea to get rid of them and change their destiny. By the will of Jupiter, the chest remained afloat and ran aground on the shore of the island of Seriphos, one of the Cyclades, of which Polydectes was king. The king's brother, while fishing, found the chest and the two castaways and took them to the palace of Polydectes, who welcomed them kindly. Perseus, the son of Jupiter and Danaë, was raised as a prince, grew up healthy and strong, good, generous, and eager for glory, some legends say that his mother Danaë was meanwhile the king's slave.