Painted between 1636 and 1643. The initial painting was probably finished in 1636 and later altered by Rembrandt himself some time before 1643. Danaë is Rembrandt's painting from the collection of Pierre Crozat which since the 18th century has resided in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia. It is a life-sized depiction of the character Danaë from Greek mythology, the mother of Perseus. She is presumably depicted as welcoming Zeus, who impregnated her in the form of a shower of gold. Given that this is one of Rembrandt's most magnificent paintings, it is not out of the question that he cherished it, but it also may have been difficult to sell because of its 8 x 10 foot size. Although the artist's wife Saskia was the original model for Danaë, Rembrandt later changed the figure's face to that of his mistress Geertje Dircx. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danaë_(Rembrandt_painting)) Painting History: by 1750: Joseph Antoine Crozat (1699-1750), France 1750: inherited by Louis Antoine Crozat (1700-1770), Paris 1772: purchased by Catherine II of Russia (1729-1796), Saint Petersburg, through Denis Diderot (1713-1784) from 1772: Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg