Diana hunting
Anthony van Dyck·1629
Historical Context
Diana Hunting from 1629, in Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, is a mythological painting depicting the virgin goddess of the hunt. Van Dyck's mythological paintings, while less numerous than his portraits, demonstrate his mastery of the figure and classical subject matter. Van Dyck's portraits defined aristocratic self-presentation across Europe, his elongated elegance and atmospheric painting technique establishing a model for formal portraiture that dominated British art until the nineteenth century.
Technical Analysis
Van Dyck renders the hunting goddess with athletic grace and sensual beauty, using the landscape setting and the dynamic movement of the chase to create a composition of elegant energy.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice the athletic grace and sensual beauty of the hunting goddess Diana at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
- ◆Look at the landscape setting and dynamic movement of the chase creating elegant energy.
- ◆Observe Van Dyck's mastery of the figure and classical subject matter in this 1629 mythological painting.
