Diana and Her nymphs at the Hunt 1600

Paul Bril made "Diana and Her Nymphs at the Hunt" using oil paints, a traditional medium for creating detailed and layered images. Bril built this scene, layer by layer, carefully mixing and applying pigments, which came at a cost. The expense of oil paints reflected the status of painting as a skilled practice, setting it apart from more utilitarian forms of image-making. Yet, unlike fresco or tempera, oil paints had the flexibility and transportability to be sold on the art market. The painting itself depicts a world of leisure, where even labor, in the form of the hunt, is romanticized as a pastime for gods and nymphs. This connects to the role that landscape painting played in the lives of Bril’s wealthy patrons. The painting provided a beautiful vista, but also served as a status marker, demonstrating the patron’s refinement and wealth. Understanding the material value, as well as the context of skilled labor, provides a richer appreciation of the painting.