Diana and her Nymphs
Diana was the Roman goddess of the hunt, unspoiled nature and the animals that inhabited it. Shunning the company of mortals and gods, Diana preferred the solitude of the forests and kept the company of nymphs and woodland creatures. A master of the bow, Diana was the greatest of all hunters. A maiden for all her days, she preserved her virginity despite the advances of potential lovers and suitors. Diana was also associated with the underworld and liminal zones—the boundaries separating the living from the dead and the wild from the civilized. Though she was a Roman goddess, much of Diana’s mythology and personality originated elsewhere. Diana was heavily based on Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting and nature.
Diana and her Nymphs Stamp Collection
Diana and her Nymphs surprised by Satyrs by Peter paul Rubens 1639 - 1640.
Diana the huntress is resting with her court of Nymphs in a clearing in the woods when she is attacked by a group of Satyrs. Rubens turned this painting into a virtuoso exercise in composition. In the foreground, two volumes lead to the rest of the scene: on the left are the hunting trophies attained by the nymphs, and on the right, a reclining nymph with her back to the viewer, one of the most sensual nudes in the artist´s entire oeuvre. In the middle ground, like a running frieze, are two groups of figures: the Nymphs who attempt to escape the attack of the Fauns. This painting comes from Rubens´ most sensual and poetic period, coinciding with the last decade of his life.
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Diana Returning from Hunt by Peter Paul Rubens 1615
Rubens preferred to paint on various plots of ancient times. Particularly attracted his goddess Diana. The fact is that the myth about her connected at once two topics. One of them is hunting. At that time, only the privileged strata of society could hunt. The artist created a series of large paintings.
If in other canvases Rubens seeks to convey the entire intensity of the struggle. Here the artist tried to give maximum attention to the beauty of this goddess. We see Diana and her companions. They stand in front of the satyrs. If Diana protects the purity of women, satire become the epitome of a true orgy. These two worlds are sharply delimited by the spear of the goddess.
The appearance of these groups is completely different. Satires are wild creatures with goat legs. Diana radiates beauty. Her companions are just as gorgeous. They become the true embodiment of feminine charm and magnificence. Satires offer a huge amount of fruit. By this they hint that they will soon make excellent wine.
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