Diana bathing surprised by a Satyr
- Artist: Rembrandt
- Date: 17th century
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "Diana bathing surprised by a Satyr", painted in the Dutch tradition, attributed to Rembrandt but now believed to be the work of one of his followers. The painting depicts a scene from ancient mythology, where the goddess Diana is shown as a nude figure lit up like she's in a spotlight. Beside her stands a figure that looks more like a satyr than a man.
The presence of hounds and a towel suggests that this is indeed Diana, but it's impossible to be certain which story the artist intended to portray. The painting has darkened with age, obscuring the background and making it harder to identify either the story or the artist who painted it.
Painted in oil on wood, the work dates back to the 17th century. Despite its mysteriousness, "Diana bathing surprised by a Satyr" remains an intriguing piece of art that invites viewers to interpret its meaning for themselves.
See it in person
Diana bathing surprised by a Satyr hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
