Cephalus and Pan at the Temple of Diana c. 1520 - 1522

Bernardino Luini painted "Cephalus and Pan at the Temple of Diana" in the early 16th century in Italy. The fresco portrays a classical scene, but look at how the figures are arranged, the architectural setting, and the landscape, it's clear that Luini was thinking about the tastes and values of his own time. The temple of Diana, with the word "Virginity" inscribed above, points to the cultural obsession with female purity, and the expectation of women in the social structure of the time. The inclusion of Pan, a symbol of untamed nature, further highlights the tension between the cultivated and the wild. As historians, we might explore Luini's other works, along with those of his contemporaries to better understand the prevailing artistic conventions, cultural values, and social expectations that shaped this painting. This fresco reminds us that art is never created in a vacuum; it is a product of its time and place.