This piece is called Portrait of Mlle Lange As Danaë by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson. This painting was the artist's way of getting revenge on the model. But what started off as a means of getting even destroyed the model’s reputation, ruined her career, and forced her to leave the country. But what about this painting could be so bad? Let’s start with the artist.
Girodet was born into an upper class family in the town of Montargis in France. He didn’t have the most easy-going personality. He was known to be “arrogant, spoiled and quick to pick a fight” as described by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, where this painting is currently on view. He was also rebellious, both personally and professionally as he drifted from the rigid neoclassical style taught to him by David and leaned into more of a romantic style. In hindsight, he’s seen as an early proponent of what would become the Romantic art movement.
Girodet won the highly coveted Prix de Rome scholarship with his piece the Story of Joseph and his Brethren when he was only 22 years old. This awarded him the ability to travel to Italy to further his studies. It was likely when he returned to France a few years later that he crossed paths with the beautiful and talented Miss Lange. Girodet first met her at the Salon of 1793 at which point she had worked her way up, through multiple successful roles, to being a well-known actress. Mlle Lange was known for her acting skills but she was also known for her romantic affairs with wealthy men.
It’s debated whether it was Lange or her new husband who commissioned this painting of her from Girodet, but one thing’s for sure: once it was completed, she hated it.
When Girodet submitted this piece to the Paris Salon, Lange was horrified because she thought it was horribly unflattering of her. She was so enraged that she demanded the artist remove the painting from public view immediately and told him she would only pay him half of the original agreed upon price.
Girodet was furious at her response but he didn’t just get mad, he got revenge. Since Mlle Lange didn’t like the first painting he made of her, he decided he’d make her another one. But that’s not all he did. First, he removed the original from the Salon wall, tore it into pieces, and had it delivered to Lange’s house. Then he spent the next 15 days working on a second painting he submitted to the Salon in place of the other one. Not only did he stick it in the exact same spot as the original painting, he displayed it in the same frame as well.
We’re confronted with Mlle Lange posing as Danaë, a figure in Greek Mythology. Danaë was the daughter of King Acrisius of Argos. King Acrisius found out that he was destined to be killed by his grandson. To prevent his deadly fate, he locked Danaë in a bronze chamber to make sure she couldn’t have a baby. But, Zeus, the king of the gods, desired Danaë so he came to her in the form of a shower of golden rain, impregnating her. Traditionally, artists depicted sitters as mythological figures to emphasize their strengths. But Girodet turned this idea on its head, spotlighting Lange’s flaws instead. Watch the video to learn all of the brazen symbolism in this painting.
When this painting was displayed at the Salon, it scandalized Paris. So much so that it was taken off display only 2 days later, but the damage was already done at that point. Consequently, Girodet’s reputation took a hit; the public saw him as ruthless and greedy. However, in time, his career rebounded.
While the artist's reputation recovered, Mlle Lange’s life as she knew it was over. After the painting was exhibited in the Paris Salon, it caused such a scandal that she quit acting and moved to Italy where she remained for the rest of her life. Years later, on a visit to France she saw a print after Girodet's Danae. Overwhelmed with emotion seeing it, she remarked that the painting would make her die of grief. She passed away in Florence in 1816 at the age of 43.
What do you think? Do you believe Girodet was justified in creating this revenge painting or do you think he took it too far? Thanks for watching!
Credits:
Fire and smoke effect from Vecteezy
Frost Waltz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
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