Dimensions: support: 1197 x 1013 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: So, this is "Portrait of a Lady, as Diana" by Jacob Huysmans, from the Tate. The lady looks so serene, almost like she's stepped out of a myth. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's funny you say that, because I see a bit of playful theater! Diana, the goddess, was a popular guise for portraits. It allowed the sitter to embody power and virtue, but with a wink. It makes me wonder, did she choose the role or was it suggested to her? Editor: I never thought about it that way! So, it's not just about representation, but about the story behind the representation. Curator: Exactly! Art is a conversation. Each brushstroke whispers secrets about the past. It makes you wonder what she would think of us looking at her today!
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/huysmans-portrait-of-a-lady-as-diana-t00901
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Huysmans shows this unknown woman dressed as Diana, virgin goddess of the hunt. She holds a spear and carries a quiver of arrows over her shoulder. The dogs suggest Diana’s hunting pack. Her semi-classical dress and her headdress of plumed feathers are similar to the costumes worn at court theatrical entertainments. These were lavish affairs for which no expense was spared to display the flamboyant opulence of the monarchy.Huysmans was born in Antwerp. He became a favourite painter of Catherine of Braganza, queen of Charles II. Gallery label, April 2007
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