Diana and Her Nymphs Departing for the Hunt

Painted circa 1615, the work was commissioned by Thomas Baring and remained in his collection until at least 1890. By 1929 it had passed to Alphonse James de Rothschild in Paris. After the German occupation of France, the painting was seized by Nazi forces and transferred to the Munich Central Collecting Point via the Hermann Göring Collection.

It was restituted post-war and entered the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1959 as part of the Northbrook collection.

Peter Paul Rubens's 'Diana and Her Nymphs Departing for the Hunt' (1615) is a dynamic oil painting that captures the Roman goddess of the hunt preparing to leave her woodland sanctuary. The composition centers on Diana, distinguished by her red garment and bare feet, as she steps confidently onto a dog while holding its leash, signaling the start of the expedition. She is surrounded by her nymphs, depicted in various states of dress and undress, some clad in blue tunics while others are nude, reflecting the classical tradition of the hunt.

A male figure, likely a hunter or attendant, leans against a tree with a bow and arrows, while other nymphs carry spears and a torch, emphasizing the group's readiness. Set within a dense forest clearing with birds in flight, the work exemplifies Rubens's mastery of the Flemish Baroque style, characterized by vigorous movement, rich coloration, and a synthesis of mythological narrative with naturalistic detail. Created during the height of Rubens's early career in Antwerp, the painting demonstrates his ability to animate classical subjects with a sense of immediacy and physical vitality, establishing his reputation as a leading interpreter of mythological themes in Northern European art.