Where Is The Hunt of Diana? See It at Borghese Gallery, Rome

Q: Who was Diana?

Diana (Greek: Artemis) was the virgin goddess of the hunt. She lived in forests with her nymphs, all sworn to chastity. Actaeon famously glimpsed her bathing and was transformed into a stag.

Q: What are the nymphs doing?

After a successful hunt, Diana's companions compete in archery and swim in a stream. The scene shows female recreation and camaraderie in an Arcadian setting.

Q: What style is The Hunt of Diana?

The painting exemplifies Bolognese classicism, which emphasized clear drawing, idealized figures, and harmonious composition. It contrasts with Caravaggio's dramatic naturalism.

Italian painter Domenichino painted this The Hunt of Diana in 1617 for Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. The goddess Diana and her nymphs compete in target practice and swimming after a successful hunt. The luminous landscape and graceful figures exemplify Bolognese classicism.

The painting shows Diana's companions in various states of undress, bathing and playing after the exertion of hunting. One nymph aims her bow at a distant target while others splash in a stream. The fresh colors and idealized bodies contrast with Caravaggio's dark naturalism, then dominant in Rome. Cardinal Scipione Borghese coveted the painting and acquired it for his collection. It hangs in the Borghese Gallery.

Diana (Greek: Artemis) was the virgin goddess of the hunt. She lived in forests with her nymphs, all sworn to chastity. Actaeon famously glimpsed her bathing and was transformed into a stag.

After a successful hunt, Diana's companions compete in archery and swim in a stream. The scene shows female recreation and camaraderie in an Arcadian setting.

The painting exemplifies Bolognese classicism, which emphasized clear drawing, idealized figures, and harmonious composition. It contrasts with Caravaggio's dramatic naturalism.

The Hunt of Diana

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The Artist

Also at Borghese Gallery, Rome

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