Danaë after Gustav Klimt, oil and gold leaf on canvas, 77cm by 83cm, (2020).
Danaë after Gustav Klimt
Danaë is an oil and gold leaf painting by Gustav Klimt, created in 1907. An example of Symbolism, the original measures 77 x 83 cm, and is in the Galerie Würthle in Vienna. Danaë was a popular subject in the early 1900s for many artists; she was used as the quintessential symbol of divine love, and transcendence.
While imprisoned by her father Acrisius, King of Argos, in a tower of bronze, Danaë was visited by Zeus, symbolized here as the golden rain flowing between her legs.
In this work, she is curled in a royal purple veil which refers to her imperial lineage. Sometime after her celestial visitation she gave birth to a son, Perseus, who is cited later in Greek mythology for slaying the Gorgon Medusa and rescuing Andromeda.
Time-lapse video (2:14)
Here you can see the stages and techniques that I employed for this reproduction.
