Jean-François de TROY (Paris, 1679 - Rome, 1752 ) Danaé Oil on canvas (Restorations) 96 x 118 cm Provenance: Anonymous sale; Versailles, galerie des Chevau-Légers sale, 6 December 1998, catalogue without number (as attributed to Jean-François de Troy); Private collection, Paris Bibliography: Gazette de l'Hôtel Drouot, 11 December 1998, p.155 (ill.) Christophe Leribault, Jean-François de Troy (1679-1752), Paris, 2002, p. 297, no. P.147 (as an autograph work) To avoid the fulfilment of the oracle that foretold he would be killed by his grandson, Acrisios, King of Argos, locked his daughter Danae in a tower of bronze to prevent her from giving birth. But Jupiter, in love with the prisoner, managed to get in touch with her in the form of a shower of gold. Perseus was born of their union. (Apollodorus, 'Library', II, 4). Christophe Leribault notes the beauty of the messy bed in our painting. Another work by Jean-François de Troy depicting Danae, but this time accompanied by her maid, was sold in our galleries1. 1 Anonymous sale; Paris, Artcurial, 14 December 2009, no. 32 (sold for €216,450) Jean-François de TROY (Paris, 1679 - Rome, 1752 ) 96 x 118 cm