Danae or The Tower of Brass 1888

Edward Burne-Jones painted this depiction of Danae, or the Tower of Brass, during the Victorian era, a time defined by its complex relationship to antiquity. His artistic style was deeply influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite movement, which often drew on medieval and mythological themes. Here, Burne-Jones interprets the Greek myth of Danae, who was imprisoned in a tower of brass by her father. The artist imagines Danae as a contemplative figure, her red robes standing in stark contrast to the industrious scene outside her door. We can observe workers constructing the very tower meant to contain her. The male figures beyond the door add a sense of scale, while emphasizing Danae's isolation. Burne-Jones's Danae becomes a study of confinement and perhaps the impossibility of escaping destiny. The emotional depth of the work invites us to reflect on the challenges faced by women, then and now, and consider the subtle ways in which society both protects and imprisons them.