The Bath of Diana

Cornelis van Poelenburgh (follower of), 1594 - 1595-1667



The Bath of Diana

Cornelis van Poelenburgh (follower of) 1594 - 1595-1667

Summary

The Bath of Diana was a popular subject of Dutch and Flemish painting of the 16th and 17th centuries. On the left is a ruined fountain decorated with a bust of Pan, whose waters form the pool in which Diana and her nymphs are bathing. Diana stands in the pool in a white robe, her head adorned with a tiny crescent moon, which confirms that she is depicted here as the moon goddess. She is talking to her nymphs, who are dressed in similar robes of pink, blue, green, gold and brown. Alert deer in the distant landscape allude to her dual role as the goddess of hunting. The painting was formerly ascribed to Cornelis van Poelenburgh (1594/95-1667), since the subject of Diana, together with very similar compositions of bathing nymphs, formed a significant part of his production. He was head of a large workshop and the work of some of his pupils and followers, such as Abraham van Cuylenborch (ca.1610-1658) and Dirck van der Lisse (active from ca. 1635, died 1669), is frequently indistinguishable from his own.


Object Name

The Bath of Diana

Date Created

1635-1670

Dimensions

unframed: 23cm x 28cm
framed: 37.4cm x 42.5cm

accession number

1917.154

Place of creation

Germany

Support

copper

Medium

oil paint

Credit

Mr James Thomas Blair bequest, 1917.

Legal

© Manchester Art Gallery


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