"The Danaides" by J.W. Waterhouse, circa 1903.Since the first viewing of this painting, "something" disturbed me. The painting depicts beautiful young women pouring water into a caldren with the face of a demon.
These young maidens are certainly committed to their task, but they know not what they are really performing...innocence in the midst of evil?
The Danaides is an ancient Greek myth.
Danus, the king of a territory in Egypt does not want his twin brother to take away his kingdom. Thus he makes a deal : because you are so infatuated with my lovely daughters'. fifty in all, you and your princes may marry them, but you must leave my kingdom and never come back. Danus' brother, enamoured with these beautiful young women agrees to the deal. However, Danus orders his fifty daughter's to kill their husbands on their wedding night. Loyal to their father, the weddings' are done with fanfare and joy. When returning to their respective chambers to consumate the marriage, all the men, including Danus' twin brother, are murdered in their sleep.
Suddenly consumed with guilt, fear and remorse, Danus gathers his fifty daughters and sets sail for other lands.
The punishments in their physical lives and the Hereafter are said to be the most terrible any mere human could imagine.
To read the entire story, Google, The Danaides, and the details you might find interesting.
It is the intense colours and attention to detail including clues as to the scene depicted is pure Waterhouse and striking in every sense.
A beautiful painting.
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