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Statue of Diana of Ephesus

Unknown

1805

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century Mythology

Dominant colour

Statue of Diana of Ephesus is a 1805 watercolor by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1805 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a tall, strange figure standing in an archway. She wears a long, shimmery dress covered in tiny pictures of animals and people. On her head is a fancy crown with horns, and she holds a round object in one hand. The background looks like old stone walls with columns, and the whole scene feels slightly faded. The figure’s dress is packed with tiny scenes—maybe gods or animals—like a mosaic. The artist used soft light and shadow to make the figure stand out against the plain background. Want to see more like this? Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

The statue depicts Diana of Ephesus, shown with multiple breasts arranged in a tiered pattern across her torso. It is likely a Roman marble copy inspired by a Greek replica of an original wooden figure from Ephesus dating to the Geometric period. The work is housed in the Capitoline Museum in Rome.

Read the full account in the museum source.