Talk:Danaë

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[edit] Danae paintings

We've gone through a number of different Danae paintings illustrating this scene from significant artists . Perhaps something needs to be mentioned of the popularity of this scene in painting, and have links to the various interpretations. - Ravenous 15:10, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Every Ovid's story was popular, in a sense. So was every major event described in the Bible. Should we repeat it every time in articles about Adoration of the Magi, Assumption, Crucifiction, etc, etc? I don't see why we should enlarge on this particular subject, now that two by far the most important interpretations are here. --Ghirla ^-трёп- 15:31, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

You make a good point. I personally DO think the impact in the art world would be worth a mention on all these topics, as the way we think about these scenes are profoundly impacted by the the major artistic representations. Think about it - more people have seen a crucifixion image than have read the story. Of course, there's bound to be thousands of significant crucifiction scenes, so where do you draw the line? That I couldn't tell you, but I do think the art impact does need more mention then a couple paintings illustrating the text.

Now about Danae, one might argue that Gustav Klimt's Danae is as important as these, if not more so. Jan Gossaert might be lesser known than Titian or Rembrant, but his Danae is considered by many to be his most important work. If we had a brief paragraph on the art impact, it also might prevent others from reverting to these paintings or others. - Ravenous 17:59, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Now about Danae, one might argue that Gustav Klimt's Danae is as important as these, if not more so.

I would like to hear this argument :) --Ghirla ^-трёп- 20:33, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

In terms of popularity, it's not exactly scientific, but Klimt is coming up about as often as Titian in various "Danae" image searches. Rembrandt, Gossart, and others significantly less often. I'm certainly not arguing that Titian or Rembrandt are less historically significant artists, but that particular work is probably Klimt's 2nd most famous, next to the Kiss. I would guess the current fame of the Rembrandt one is partly due to it's destruction a few years back.

Anyway, the point I was really trying to make is that the art impact of this particular scene is worthy of some kind of mention here. Probably due to the scene having thematic parallels to christian annunciation/conception scenes (though clearly more erotic). What do you say to this? - Ravenous 22:03, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Images should be chosen which highlight major events in the story of Danaë. Thus, I would argue against having two images of her impregnation by Zeus represented, when there exist depictions of other central events (even if depictions of the former are a more common subject in artistic interpretations of the myth). I had selected Waterhouse's Danaë as a secondary image as it shows Danaë and her son Perseus being loaded into the wooden casket. Which interpretation of the earlier event — Titian's, Rembrant's, Klimt's, or Gossaert's — is most "representative?" You decide. In any case, the {{Commonscat}} tag leads to a gallery at WikiCommons featuring many more visual representations of Danaë. A paragraph on the impact of art would also be a very good addition to the current article. -Severa (!!!) 19:56, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Images should be chosen which highlight major events in the story of Danaë.

Nonsense. This is not a biography. --Ghirla ^-трёп- 20:33, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Your suggestion for narrowing the possibilities, then? -Severa (!!!) 20:54, 23 May 2006 (UTC)