Diana the Huntress c. 1700 - 1725

Johan Larson created this lead sculpture of Diana the Huntress sometime before his death in 1664. Here we see how classical themes persisted in European art. Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, was associated with wild animals and woodland, but also with chastity and the moon. Looking at this sculpture, we might ask why Larson chose this particular subject. The image of Diana would have been familiar to educated Swedes of the 17th century. In this period, Sweden was rising as a great power, expanding its territories, and engaging in grand building projects. Classical imagery like this lent a sense of authority, and aligned Sweden with the empires of old. Art historians often turn to historical texts like emblem books and mythologies to interpret classical images such as this. Studying the tastes of patrons and the social function of art provides a richer understanding of works like "Diana the Huntress."