Jean François de TROY (1679 - 1752) Diana and Actaeon
The theme of Diana and Actaeon has been treated several times by Jean Francois de Troy. The table now preserved in Basel seems to be the largest and richest in figures .
Diana is bathing with five voluptuous nymphs in a cave in diaphanous light, Actaeon, dimly lighted, arises from the left ; two dogs complete the composition.
The subject is taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Book III to 177-181, 189-193): Actaeon, grand-son of Apollo by his father and great grand-son of Mars by his mother was raised by the centaur Chiron who taught him the art of hunting.
One day, during a hunt, he got lost and surprised that Diana was bathing nude in a source. Furious, the goddess transformed him into a stag and was eaten by his fifty hounds.
The dogs sought in vain their master and filled the woods with their cries. Their search led them into the cave of the centaur Chiron; to comfort them Chiron fashioned a statue in the image of Actaeon.
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