Portret van Rebecca Lockhart als Diana 1749

James McArdell created this mezzotint portrait of Rebecca Lockhart as Diana in 1729. During the 18th century, it was fashionable for women of the British aristocracy to be portrayed as classical goddesses, reflecting the sitter’s virtue, beauty, and status. Here, Lockhart embodies Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, moonlight, and chastity. But, what does it mean to cloak oneself in the garb of mythology? The adoption of classical personas was more than mere aesthetic posing. It offered a culturally sanctioned means for women to assert power within the confines of a patriarchal society. Diana, with her independence and prowess, provided a compelling, albeit symbolic, identity. By commissioning such portraits, women could subtly challenge conventional gender roles. Even as they embraced idealized beauty standards, they also gestured towards a narrative of female agency. This portrait becomes a fascinating intersection of artifice, aspiration, and subtle resistance.