Diana And Actaeon 

Charles-Joseph Natoire created this pen and wash drawing of Diana and Actaeon sometime in the 18th century. The scene depicts the moment when the hunter Actaeon stumbles upon the goddess Diana and her nymphs bathing in the woods. The mythology of ancient Greece and Rome was very popular among artists of Natoire's time. The theme allowed artists to explore different themes and concepts about power and morality. The nude female body became a key element within academic artistic practice. How do the figures look, and what do they express? Artists of the time were trying to figure out ideal types of beauty that were inspired by ancient art. Academies became centers of artistic training, promoting specific ideas and concepts. The drawing provides some clues about the changing place of visual art in 18th-century Europe. Art historians investigate these trends, using surviving artworks, letters, publications, and other sources to illuminate the social conditions that shape artistic production.