Who painted Portrait of a Woman as Diana?

Portrait of a Woman as Diana was painted by Jean-Marc Nattier in 1752.

Where can I see Portrait of a Woman as Diana?

Portrait of a Woman as Diana is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Woman as Diana?

Portrait of a Woman as Diana is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Portrait of a Woman as Diana

Jean-Marc Nattier , 1752

Portrait of a Woman as Diana is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean-Marc Nattier. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1942.643
Credit line: Bequest of John L. Severance

About this work

A woman in a blue silk dress holds a bow and wears a leopard-skin sash. A quiver of arrows hangs at her side.

Nattier often dressed real women as goddesses, here, Diana, the hunt goddess. The woman isn’t Madame de Pompadour, though people once thought so. The painting feels light, almost like a costume party.

To see more women turned into myth, look up Jean-Marc Nattier (French, 1685–1766).

Overview

This painting, Portrait of a Woman as Diana, is a work by Jean-Marc Nattier, a French artist active in the 18th century. It depicts a woman dressed as the goddess Diana.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is portrayed wearing a blue silk dress and a leopard-skin sash, holding a bow and carrying a quiver of arrows, attributes associated with Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt. The sitter's identity was previously misidentified as Madame de Pompadour, a prominent figure in French art and politics.

Technique & Style

Nattier's style is characterized by his portrayal of women in mythological guises. The painting's light and playful tone is achieved through the artist's depiction of the subject in a fantastical costume, blending reality and mythology.

History & Provenance

For a long time, the sitter was mistakenly identified as Madame de Pompadour, but a closer examination reveals little resemblance to this historical figure. The correct identity of the subject remains unknown.