Artwork
En mytologisk figur. Danaë (?)
En mytologisk figur. Danaë (?) is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created around 1750 by the artist catalogued as 34589_person, this image is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1750 by the artist catalogued as 34589_person, this image is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work is presented as a black‑and‑white photograph that captures a reclining female figure rendered in soft illumination against a dark backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a woman lying on her side, her head supported by one arm, dressed in a loosely draped garment. Her expression is calm and slightly withdrawn, inviting contemplation of a mythological or allegorical identity, possibly referencing the figure of Danaë from classical lore.
Technique & Style
The photograph emphasizes chiaroscuro, using a gentle gradation of light to model the figure’s skin while the surrounding darkness recedes. Graininess inherent in the image softens details, focusing attention on the interplay of light and shadow rather than precise facial features.
History & Provenance
The piece dates to the mid‑18th century and has been retained within the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings. No further documentation on its acquisition or earlier ownership is currently recorded.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
