Diana Resting after the Hunt
1778
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1778
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Diana Resting after the Hunt is a 1778 ink by Johann Baptist Enderle, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows a wild, crowded scene in a forest. At the center, a woman in a green dress stands with a dog, while other people sit or stand around her. Some hold drinks, others play instruments, and a few animals—dogs, rabbits, and a deer—scatter across the ground. Above them, winged figures float in the sky, and the trees look almost alive with swirling lines. The woman in green is likely Diana, the Roman goddess of hunting, taking a break after a chase. The mix of humans, animals, and mythical beings creates a busy, dreamlike atmosphere. Next, look up watercolor to see how artists use thin layers of paint to build light and depth.
