Diana's rest

Diane resting This painting, from the collection of the Potoccy family, the former owners of the castle, shows Diane resting after her bath. The scene plays out in a meadow, against the backdrop of architecture and a rocky landscape on the right side of the painting. The composition has a single plan, the goddess is sitting in the centre, accompanied by two nymphs aiding her. The women are almost naked, wearing only white loincloths. Diane, as goddess of the hunt, is accompanied two black and white spotted dogs, a rabbit and a dead bird. In her hands she is holding her attribute – the bow. Above, the painting is dark-blue, with grey-pink clouds, and orange-pink reflections in the horizon. Diane (Artemis) is the mythological goddess of the hunt, animals, forests, mountains and flora. She was also considered a goddess of fertility, the moon, and of death. Her attributes are the quiver and arrows, the bow, and her accompanying animal was the hind. Diane, in particular scenes of her washing, are frequently depicted in painting, in particular in the 18th century. The Łańcut painting also stems from this period, sadly we know nothing about the author. The painting has a narrow, wooden, profiled, gilded frame, and can be seen in the Red Bedroom, a part of the Male Apartment (taken by the castle owner) on the first floor.