Pastoral Family Portrait of Four Children, Personifying Mythological Figures, Including Ganymede, And Diana With a Deer 

Nicolaes Maes's *Pastoral Family Portrait of Four Children, Personifying Mythological Figures, Including Ganymede, And Diana With a Deer* is a captivating portrayal of four children depicted as mythological figures. The painting showcases Maes's talent for capturing the essence of youth, evident in the cherubic faces and playful expressions of the children. The central figure, a young girl, is depicted as Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, with a deer by her side. Above her, a winged figure holding an eagle represents Ganymede, a young Trojan prince who was abducted by Zeus in the form of an eagle. The remaining two children embody the innocent joy of childhood. Maes's meticulous attention to detail is apparent in the rich textures of the children's clothing and the lush foliage that surrounds them. This painting exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age's fascination with both portraiture and mythological imagery, making it a significant work of Dutch art.