Diana Hunting

In Elliger’s signed painting she is Diana depicted in one of the most habitual scenes, as a huntress with a bow and quiver with arrows, accompanied by a dog and a nymph. From the mid-16th century, the penchant for Diana’s depictions was growing, particularly in relation to the popularity of women’s portraits stylized as this virgin goddess. The conservative composition arranged in a shallow scene, in which the figures of Diana and her companion are set, reflects the German painting tradition of the early 17th century turning to Mannerism. Comparison with the Prague canvas can be seen, for example, in the composition entitled Diana and Her Nymphs Bathing from Teylers Museum in Haarlem.