Diana holding a spear with a stag at right and holding a bear on a leash

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Cherubino Alberti created after 1580, the Roman goddess Diana in a dynamic pose, spear in hand, with a stag at her right and a bear a leash. Titled *Diana holding a spear with a at right and holding a on a leash*, it Alberti's skill as a Mannerist engraver in late 16th-century Rome. As a reproductive printmaker, Alberti often copied compositions by masters like Federico Zuccaro, and this work is a "reverse copy"—mirroring the original design, a technique that allowed printmakers to replicate paintings faithfully while adapting for the printing process. Engravings like this were pivotal in disseminating classical mythology to a wider audience during the Renaissance, making elite art accessible through affordable prints. Diana, huntress and protector of wild animals, is here portrayed with her traditional stag companion but intriguingly leashed bear, blending ferocity and control—perhaps symbolizing dominion over nature. The fine lines and intricate detailing showcase engraving's precision, where a burin carves into copper plates for rich tonal contrasts. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1951), this 10 1/2 × 7 5/16 in. sheet invites visitors to appreciate how prints bridged art and culture, preserving mythological narratives for generations.

About the Artist

Cherubino Alberti (Zaccaria Mattia) · 1553–1615

Cherubino Alberti (1553–1615), also known by his birth name Zaccaria Mattia, was an Italian engraver and painter active in Rome during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Born in Borgo San Sepolcro in Tuscany, he came from an artistically inclined family and received training that equipped him for work in both painting and the reproductive graphic arts. It was as a printmaker, however,...