Sacrifice to Diana c. 17th century

Editor: This is Richard van Orley's "Sacrifice to Diana", a print, presumably made sometime between 1663 and 1732. The scene feels very formal and structured. What symbols do you recognize in this image? Curator: The image is steeped in classical symbolism. Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, stands as a figure of autonomy and connection to the natural world. Notice the repetition of columns, which invoke ideas of stability and the pillars of civilization. Editor: How does the act of sacrifice play into this? Curator: Sacrifice here might symbolize a negotiation between humans and the divine, an offering of something valued in exchange for protection or favor. Perhaps it speaks to a cultural memory of needing to appease powerful forces. What does it make you feel? Editor: It makes me consider how these rituals connect people across time, even if the specific deities change. Curator: Precisely. The symbols may shift, but the human need for connection to something greater endures.