Search

One of the classical myths that are present in Cervantes’ interpolated tale of El curioso impertinente, the rape of Danaë, has not receive much critical attention.. The many visual images in the cervantine tale recall the use of ekphrasis to portray the myth in Terence’s Eunuch, where the painting is one of the causes of Pánfila’s rape. The cervantine tale evokes the controversy triggered by the ancient play, starting with Saint Augustine and continuing into the Spanish Golden Age, with writers such as Juan de Mariana and Juan de Pineda. This study of Terence’s comedy along with the painting of Danae, sent by Titian to Philip II, serves to the underline the structural and thematic importance of the myth in Cervantes’ tale. Through the story of Danaë, Cervantes enters into the debate on the impact of the visual arts at the time of the Counterreformation., Uno de los mitos clásicos que aparecen en la novela intercalada cervantina, El curioso impertinente, el del rapto de Dánae, no ha recibido mucha atención crítica. Las muchas imágenes visuales de la novela cervantina recuerdan la écfrasis de este mito en el Eunuco de Terencio, donde la pintura es una de las causas del rapto de Pánfila. La novela cervantina se hace eco de la controversia que había suscitado el Eunuco, comenzando con San Agustín; controversia que continuó hasta el Siglo de Oro con escritores tales como Juan de Mariana y Juan de Pineda. El estudio de la comedia de Terencio y de la pintura de Dánae enviada por Tiziano a Felipe II ayudan a comprender la importancia del mito como elemento temático y estructural en la novela. La historia de Dánae en Cervantes forma parte del debate sobre el impacto de las artes visuales en la época de la Contrarreforma.

One of the classical myths that are present in Cervantes’ interpolated tale of El curioso impertinente, the rape of Danaë, has not receive much critical attention.. The many visual images in the cervantine tale recall the use of ekphrasis to portray the myth in Terence’s Eunuch, where the painting is one of the causes of Pánfila’s rape. The cervantine tale evokes the controversy triggered by the ancient play, starting with Saint Augustine and continuing into the Spanish Golden Age, with writers such as Juan de Mariana and Juan de Pineda. This study of Terence’s comedy along with the painting of Danae, sent by Titian to Philip II, serves to the underline the structural and thematic importance of the myth in Cervantes’ tale. Through the story of Danaë, Cervantes enters into the debate on the impact of the visual arts at the time of the Counterreformation.