Portrait of a Woman as Diana 1752

Editor: Here we have Jean-Marc Nattier's "Portrait of a Woman as Diana," painted in 1752. The figure has a regal and calm bearing. Her dress and adornments strike me as very deliberate choices to signal her allegorical representation of Diana. What do you make of the choices of visual elements in this portrait? Curator: The immediate signal is, of course, the association with Diana, goddess of the hunt. This is evoked not only through her confident gaze, but more subtly through the hunting bow and the leopard pelt – the latter referencing wildness and the goddess's dominion over animals. Can you think about why Nattier, or more accurately, the sitter, wanted to invoke Diana? Editor: Perhaps to emphasize strength, independence, or connection to nature? Curator: Precisely! It speaks to a cultural memory of feminine power, linking the sitter to this archetype. Even her floral crown isn’t merely decorative; it signifies Diana’s connection to the natural world and cycles of renewal. Notice also the soft Rococo style – how does it affect our understanding of Diana, who traditionally represents strong, virgin independence? Editor: The softness almost feels like it tempers the severity of the goddess? The portrayal almost civilizes her, bringing Diana into the more refined and delicate Rococo aesthetic. Curator: Exactly. The symbol remains, but is being re-interpreted, imbued with new cultural meaning. The symbols persist, but meanings shift over time. How interesting is that? Editor: That’s really fascinating – how visual symbols continue to morph to reflect cultural values. I see so much more here now! Curator: Indeed! It's a potent example of how artists use imagery to connect the present to the past, embedding cultural memory within a portrait.