The Mystery of Gold. Danae and the Golden Rain, amidst Alchemy and Economic Science

Authors

  • Catalina Aldama Instituto de Altos Estudios Sociales. Universidad Nacional de San Martín

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24215/25457888e025

Keywords:

Danae, mythological nudes, art history, history of economic thought, alchemy

Abstract

Between the XVI and the XVII centuries, in continental Europe, there was a proliferation of paintings, engravings, frescoes and prints dedicated to the mythical episode of Danae and the golden rain. The distinctive element of Danae’s scene, in comparison to other mythological nudes, is gold, which appears as a corrupting substance. Taking Hendrik Goltzius’ painting on the subject as a starting point, the purpose of this article is to investigate the way in which gold is represented in some of the paintings of the period. We will explore the link of these images with the curiosity of the time to unravel the mystery of this metal. From an alchemical treatise to an economic text, between magic and science, we will find Danae being evoked in order to explain the power of gold.

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Published

2020-05-20

How to Cite

Aldama, C. (2020). The Mystery of Gold. Danae and the Golden Rain, amidst Alchemy and Economic Science. Armiliar, (4), e025. https://doi.org/10.24215/25457888e025

Issue

No. 4 (2020): Armiliar 4

Section

Articles

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