Follower of Tiziano Vecellio, called Titian

Titian’s original, datable to 1544, was painted  for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese during his brief and only visit to Rome (1544-5), It was to remain in the Palazzo Farnese, Rome, until the mid 17^th century (see H. Wethey,  The Paintings of Titian, vol. III,  The Mythological and Historical Paintings, London 1975, pp. 132-3, cat. no. 5, reproduced plate 81), and is presently in the Museo di Capodimonte, Naples.

An attribution has been suggested to Alessandro Varotari, called Padovanino (Padua 1588 – 1649 Venice). Padovanino travelled to Rome circa 1614, where he was actively engaged copying paintings by Titian, including the Aldobrandini Bacchanal scenes, which are now in the Accademia Carrara, Bergamo (see U. Rugieri, Il Padovanino, Soncino 1993, pp. 48-55, cat. nos. 2-5, reproduced).

The subject is taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book IV (699-701), and depicts Danae being seduced by Jupiter who had turned himself into a shower of gold so as to enter the tower where she had been imprisoned by her father.