Myth Of Diana And Ataeon

Painting oil on canvas depicting the myth of Diana and Actaeon measuring 110 x 130 without frame and 120 x 140 with frame by the painter Francesco Solimena.

According to the myth, during a hunting trip, Actaeon provoked Diana's wrath when he caught her bathing with her companions in the shade of the Gargafia forest. The summer heat induced her to put on her clothes and cool off, interrupting the hunt. The goddess, to prevent the hunter from speaking about what he had seen, transformed the young man into a stag by spraying water on his face. Actaeon only realised his transformation when he ran to a spring, where he could see himself reflected in the water. Meanwhile the hunter was joined by his 50 dogs, enraged by Artemis, who, not recognising him, mauled their old master. The dogs, once they had devoured Actaeon, set out in search of their master throughout the forest, filling it with painful wails. Later they came to the cave of Chiron, who gave them an image of their master to ease their pain.

Francesco Solimena, also known as L'Abate Ciccio, was a famous Italian painter of the late Baroque current. He was influenced in his conception of art by Luca Giordano for his creative and very scenic painting and Mattia Preti.

Francesco's passion for painting was fostered by Cardinal Pietro Francesco Orsini, later Pope Benedict XIII, who during one of his stays in Nocera Inferiore was dazzled by Francesco's artistic abilities.

In the 1780s, Solimena's painting began to change and become characterised: from naturalism Francesco switched to Baroque.

This canvas is masterfully painted by Francesco Solimena ( Canale di Serino 1657 - Barra 1747 ) at the height of his career and style around the end of the 17th century/early 18th century, where we can see that Francesco, despite being attracted by Baroque currents, still brings out his naturalist spirit in the powerful volumetric construction of the protagonists' bodies skilfully dosed with an almost soft colour that permeates the entire composition.

The paintings and works of art published here are my exclusive property and therefore are always available to be viewed, by appointment, in my exhibition sites located in Sanremo and Brescia.

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Mr. Riccardo Moneghini
Art Historian