Diana

Diana, goddess of the hunt, the moon, and chastity, was among the most popular mythological subjects in Rococo painting, combining the appeal of the idealized female nude with a narrative of independence and power. Ricci's Diana of around 1700 belongs to the same early mythological group as his Apollo, and together they may have formed a pendant pair for decorative or cabinet use. The subject allowed painters to show the goddess in sylvan surroundings with hunting attributes — crescent, bow, dogs — in an atmosphere of graceful outdoor leisure.

Diana is likely shown in a landscape setting with her characteristic crescent moon and hunting gear. Ricci's fresh, open brushwork and warm flesh tones give the figure an animated, spontaneous quality, typical of his smaller mythological canvases.