Diana with Her Hounds

Art Historical Context

This elegant ivory sculpture, created in the circle of Leonhard Kern during the 17th century, captures the Roman goddess Diana accompanied by her loyal hounds. Kern, a German sculptor renowned for his masterful small-scale carvings, worked in the Baroque tradition, emphasizing graceful movement and lifelike detail. Though not by the master himself, this piece reflects the high quality of his workshop, where intricate figures were fashioned for princely collectors and cabinets of curiosity. Ivory’s smooth, luminous surface made it ideal for rendering Diana’s flowing drapery and the alert postures of her dogs, allowing carvers to achieve remarkable delicacy on a modest scale—just under nine inches tall. In the 1600s, such works were prized symbols of refined taste, often displayed alongside natural wonders and classical antiquities. The subject of Diana, goddess of the hunt, resonated with contemporary audiences who admired themes of strength, chastity, and harmony with nature. Today the sculpture invites viewers to appreciate both its technical virtuosity and its quiet evocation of Baroque elegance, preserved through the generosity of the Robert H. Smith Collection.