Diana and Actaeon
ca. 1580–85
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and gray wash, white heightening, over traces of black chalk, on paper washed blue and pink
Dimensions
16 1/4 x 12 5/8in. (41.3 x 32.1cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1997
Accession Number
1997.93
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite drawing by Bartholomeus Spranger captures the dramatic mythological encounter between the goddess Diana and the hunter Actaeon. According to ancient legend, Actaeon accidentally stumbles upon Diana and her nymphs bathing, a transgression that leads to his tragic transformation. Spranger’s composition emphasizes the moment of surprise, with dynamic figures arranged to heighten tension and narrative energy. Created around 1580–85, the work showcases the artist’s masterful draftsmanship through its refined technique. Spranger employed pen and brown ink with layered washes of brown...