Standbeeld van Diana staande naast jachthond 1636 - 1647

Theodor Matham created this image of Diana and her hunting dog using pen and gray ink in the Netherlands sometime in the 17th century. Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, was associated with the moon, wild animals, and the forest. Representations of Diana in art are loaded with social and cultural meaning. Diana was often used to signify the virtues of chastity, fertility, and motherhood, making her a popular subject in aristocratic and royal portraiture. Matham’s decision to depict Diana with her hunting dog, a symbol of loyalty and companionship, adds to the cultural significance of the piece. We can better understand this work through the study of emblem books, mythology, and the social and cultural history of the Netherlands during this period. Only then we can understand the complex interplay of the image and its moment in time.