Artwork
Diana and Callisto
Diana and Callisto is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Pietro Liberi. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Pietro Liberi, a Venetian painter of the mid‑17th century, completed the oil on canvas titled Diana and Callulo in 1670. The work exemplifies the early Italian Baroque style and is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a mythological episode in which the huntress Diana confronts the nymph Callisto. The standing figure, identified as Diana, points an arrow toward the seated Callisto, whose gaze meets hers, suggesting a moment of accusation or revelation within a pastoral setting.
Technique & Style
Liberi employs a rich palette of flesh tones to render the nude figures, contrasting their smooth skin with the textured bark of surrounding trees. The painting’s chiaroscuro model creates a three‑dimensional effect, while classical architectural elements, columns and a distant water horizon, frame the scene.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in 1670, the canvas has remained in the public domain, eventually entering the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings, where it is displayed among other Baroque works.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro (Libertino) Liberi (1605 – 18 October 1687) was a Venetian painter of the Baroque era, active mainly in Venice and the Veneto.
